Fic: Graile Chapter 1 - Welcome to Hemry

[Jack Xavier Warriner <connor_macbeth@xxxxxxxxx>]

Graile 
Chapter One ? Welcome to Hemry
By: MacBeth

Author's Note ? I?m Reposting this series because
I?ve finally had time to tweak it. Minor (and some
Major) spelling changes. For theatrical purposes,
envision Mark Mcgrath (Sugar Ray) as Pike, and Casper
Van Dien (Modern Vampires) as Jack Covington. Donald
Sutherland (The god awful Movie.) as Merrick, whom
Lothos prevented from committing suicide and kept
locked in a ventilated Ice chest. One last thing, If
anyone has a theory about where I?m going with this
story, I?d like to hear them.
Feedback: PLEASE!!! Don?t make me beg, it?s not a
pretty sight.
Disclaimers: Usual, I only own J, D, A, and the man
himself, Graile. The rest are Joss?/Davis & Panzer
(Subtle hint of the other branch of that wacky
Watchers Council). ?Probably Me? Courtesy of Sting and
Eric Clapton.
BTW: It?s pronounced ?ORD-NI-KO-NAI?

Los Angeles, California
Hemry High School
1995

The sound of a Harley Davidson pulling into the
parking lot of the high school was not unusual to most
of the students. Many had seen the Soft Tail pull up
throughout the year. A few of the more popular
students did a double take at the passenger. Elizabeth
"Buffy" Anne Summers slid off the bike with ease.
Ignoring the looks of her former friends, she leaned
against the bike and pulled the tall young man into a
light embrace. Pike St.Cross held the slim blonde and
gently kissed her. "Lunch?" he asked her in a whisper.
Buffy simply nodded and kissed him on the lips that
left little doubt in the onlookers minds how serious
they might be. "Lunch, front steps. And remember, no
skipping." she said the last in a mock chiding tone.
Ever since he saw her defeat Lothos, He had seriously
decided that he needed to stick near the blonde
Slayer, and that meant returning to school. Pike
simply grinned and pulled their knapsacks from the
saddlebags. Handing hers to her, he casually turned
and headed for his first period class. Buffy smirked
and headed to hers, spinning a pencil in her fingers.
Standing near a column of lockers, Lucille
Mulholland whispered into Britney Turgol's ear, "God,
could that slut have fallen off the social ladder
faster?" causing Britney to burst into high pitched,
shrieking giggles 
"Yeah, what a ho!" Buffy, having heard the snide
remarks in passing snapped her pencil in half, which
would not have been nearly as intimidating if it had
not been mechanical. The rest of the social sheep
averted their eyes and were ushered into their math
class by Vice-Principal. Graham, who narrowed his eyes
at the slim leather clad blonde and made a mental note
to bust her for something... anything...
Buffy breezed through her classes and exited her
classroom with a barely suppressed sigh of release
before heading for the central courtyard. Waited at
"their" tree for Pike. She grinned when she saw his
muscular form leaning against the tree talking with a
taller, muscular, young man whom Buffy had noticed
leaving Pike's garage a few times. "Hey Pike, who's
this?" 
Pike grinned at his girlfriend and slipped his arm
around her waist. "This is Jack Covington, he's a
friend of mine from Brooklyn. He heard I had a "new
squeeze", his words not mine, and he's got a gift for
you." he finished, and began nuzzling her neck.
"Really? For me? gimme...!" she thrust her hand out
with a childlike tone in her voice.
Jack grinned a half grin. "I don't know... Have you
been a good little slayer?" he asked in a parent's
condescending tone.
Buffy's eyes widened then turned to glare at Pike.
"Someone's been blabbing..." she remarked, slapping
Pike on the arm.
Pike raised his arms in defense. "Hey, hey, not me,
He already knew. He's been pestering me to meet you."
Buffy narrowed her eyes and eyed Jack with a defensive
glare.
"So what do you want?? She asked in a clipped tone,
instantly on guard and appraising Jack for a threat.
"Whoa, calm down B, I simply want to give you
this." he said taking a step back and pulling out a
small jewelry box. "It's something your...
"Predecessor" wanted you to have. She told me to give
it to the next slayer called. That means you luv." his
Irish accent carried to the nearby table where Lucy
and Britney sat gossiping. 
"God, that slut gets all the hotties..." Lucy
mumbled under her breath taking in the shorter man's
tight denim clad ass and swallowed nervously when
Jack's eyes glared at her as though he had heard her.
Buffy sensed his discomfort and turned her head to see
who he was glaring at.
"Oh, don't mind them, they haven't got a brain stem
between them." she said with a smirk and held Pike a
little closer. Taking the box, she eyed Jack's toned
form, and guessed he'd be capable of defending himself
in a fight. With a flip of her fingers, she opened the
box and looked down at the wide, thick gold bracelet
inside. Etched with tiny runes, and capped with a
large sapphire flanked by two smaller gems so blue
they almost screamed enchantment. "Whoa... a tad
gaudier than I like, but I could get used to gifts
like this..." she said nudging Pike in the ribs, who
rolled his eyes in reply.
Slipping the bracelet onto her left wrist, she felt
an immediate tingle of energy. "Wow, um, what?s this
thing do anyway?" Buffy asked, beginning to get
worried over the apparent energy now numbing her arm.
"Uh, Jack?"
Jack simply scratched his jaw, sunlight glinting
off the emerald and gold ring on his right ring
finger. "I... well that is to say, I uh, I seem to
have forgotten." he said with an innocent grin.
"You let me put on this... thing and you don't
REMEMBER what the hell it does?!? She started as a
whisper and grew into a full shout. Which just
happened to occur when the Vice Principal walked by.
"Summers! That type of profanity is not tolerated
on this campus! You just earned yourself detention.
I'll see you in the Library after school." Mr. Graham
announced feeling very superior at the now crestfallen
young girl.
Pike, seeing his girl in trouble, immediately
looked at Buffy with a mock glare. "Damnit Buffy, I
told you not to fucking talk like that around this
prick!" he winked as he caught the Bugged eyes of the
Vice-Principal out of the corner of his eye.
"That's two days of detention for you Mr.St.
Cross." and with that said, Mr.Graham turned and
walked away, oblivious to the now cheered up Slayer.
"My hero. Seriously, thank you Pike, You didn't
have to do that for me. Graham's had it in for me
since I killed that Succubus that was giving all the
men wet dreams and killing the cheerleaders."
Jack hid a smile and apologized. "I'm sorry Buffy,
I didn't mean to get you in trouble, the bracelet
misdirects missile weapons and once per day can make
your skin harder than stone."
"Cool... Thanks Jack. This may come in handy, but
I've yet to meet a vampire with a gun. Which if you
think about it, is a bit on the odd side."
Hearing the bell ring, Buffy's head dropped. ?Ugh.
Math class...Nice meeting you Jack. Thanks for the
gift." giving Pike a quick kiss, she headed off to the
staircase. Jack and Pike watched her go.
"What really brought you out here today Jack?" Pike
asked, not taking his eyes off Buffy's retreating
form.
"It's getting time. I told you what will happen.
You can avoid it, Hold her tightly and love her
deeply. But then those people I told you about, her
future family? They?ll be turned, killed, and tortured
beyond all belief. I'm not trying to kill what
happiness you have with her now, just expanding your
view of the future. Again, I'm sorry." Jack said,
turning and heading for his jet black 1973 Cutlass. 
"Yeah... Thanks..." Pike said, contemplating his
future.
Stopping, Jack turned back and looked at Pike.
Shaking his head, he slipped into the convertible and
started the engine. Pulling a fag from his jacket, he
slipped it between his lips and snapped his fingers. A
small flicker of blue flame licked the tip of his
first digit as he touched the end of his cigarette.
Jack took a deep inhale and blew the smoke out in a
slim stream. ?Damn Fate, You ARE a bitch.?
* * *

High above the High School grounds, within the very
top of the Bell Tower, a cowled form stood. Watching
the humans below. "They have no idea how long they
have left. Do they Lucius?" he whispered to a tall
black man behind him. 
"No sir, they definitely do not." The man answered.
"As it should be... As it should be." Turning, The
tall, hooded man locked eyes with his servant and
grinned. Lucius stood emotionless.
"Prepare the Cauldron, Lucius. I shall be in my
chambers." he stated as the tall ebony skinned man
headed for the stairs behind his master.
"Yes Master."
* * *

Buffy slammed against the mausoleum wall with a
groan. Turning to the one who?d kicked her, she drew a
stake from her leather jacket and charged the smirking
vampire. Throwing a stake fisted left punch into the
vampire's midsection, and followed by a right cross to
the jaw, she swiftly spun at the waist and drove the
sharpened length of wood into his back. Turning to the
girl who was curled up in the fetal position behind
the headstone of Thomas Wade, she leaned down and
helped up the semi catatonic teen to her feet. ?There
you go... Britney? What the... hell are...you...? was
all she got out as Britney Turgol?s eyes rolled in
their sockets in stark terror and she bolted between
two mausoleums. The Slayer watched the ditz run away.
?Well, she?s scared snotless.?
Pike walked over to Buffy and looked down at the
pile of dust. "You make it look soooo easy." Seeing
Buffy grin, he slung his arm over her shoulder and
kissed her temple.
"I've just got you here to inspire me, that's all."
Buffy looked up at Pike and leaned in for a soft kiss.
Feeling a soft shuffling beneath them, Buffy winked at
Pike. "Hold that thought." She kneeled down and drove
her stake shoulder deep into the earth. Slipping the
stake directly between the newly rising vampire's
shoulderblade and his collarbone directly into his no
longer beating heart.
"Ok... Now you're starting to scare me." Pike edged
away from her in jest as the earth settled into the
abruptly vacated space the vampire previously
occupied. "I'm not gonna ask how you aimed that..."
Ancient Slayer training." was all the blonde said.
Before she noticed a slight glimmer in the grass.
"Whoa..." Kneeling, she picked up a metallic piece of
paper and grinned at the writing.
Seeing Buffy smirk, Pike looked at the slip in her
hand as she showed it to him. "Caritas? Good for one
free Pint, A, B, O+. Is this a joke?" he asked Buffy.
"No... That?s no joke. That?s a Demon Karaoke bar.
It's also a No Violence Zone. Merrick took me there
once. The Host is both cool and very flamboyant.
Basically, If you sing, the host can give you hints
and advice of the future and before you even think of
asking no I didn't sing."
"Oh ho, we've SO gotta go there. C?mon, the address
isn't far." Pike said, bordering on whining.
"No, it's late, maybe another night, ok?? She said
in that No-Chance-In-Hell-Tone. I've gotta get home.
Smoochies?" She said, turning her puckered lips up to
Pike, which he kissed gladly.
* * *

?2 am and the city?s deserted. Maybe most people
aren?t so stupid after all.? Pike thought as he parked
his Soft Tail across the street from where the card
indicated. Pike slipped off the bike and pulled on a
black leather trench coat he got from a vampire he
dusted the previous week. Crossing the street, he
noticed a stunning raven-haired woman walk in before
him and give him an appraising eye. "Buy you a drink?
They've got virgin's blood here..." she trailed off in
a tempting tone.
"Uh, sure. No blood for me though, I just ate." he
replied with false confidence.
"Suit yourself. Nice Jacket by the way." She said
when suddenly she sniffed the air. "Oh." she sniffed
again, "Damn. You nearly fooled me mortal." she winked
and walked down the staircase into Caritas.
"Right." Stepping down, he entered the doorway and
grinned at the Lounge club atmosphere. A tall green
skinned man walked up to him in a flashy red suit.
"Well.... You're a new one now, aren't you? We don't
get many humans down here, but Honey? You?re money's
as good as anyone?s, as long as it?s as green as me.
Now what can I get you sweetcakes? A Vulcan Mindmeld?
Daiquiri? Or maybe a Martini?" 
"I take it you're the Host right? Buffy was right.
This place is..." he started.
"Wait, wait. You're a friend of Buffy's? Short,
blonde, powerful right hook?" Seeing his nod, The Host
slung a hand over his shoulder and guided him to the
bar. "Well, Why didn't you SAY so? You drink on the
house, as long as you promise to bring her back here
one night. She has a voice like Babs AND Tina. We'd
love to have her come back. Rico! Fix this hot young
man a drink." With that, the Host excused himself
after seeing a Vulsin Demon slither in.
Pike simply grinned and turned to Rico. "What did
Buffy sing when she was here?" 
"Henley's Walking in Memphis. What'll you drink?"
"Jack and Coke," he said, flashing his fake ID. The
bartender examined the slip, peeled the corner up,
grinned, and proceeded to fix the drink.
After three glasses, he was feeling in a good mood.
Pike signaled the Host over. "What's up Tall Dark and
Chiseled?"
"Where's your Song List?" he asked softly. 
The Host smiled brightly and snapped his fingers.
Rico brought over a slim binder for him to flip
through, finally choosing one. "Ooh... Good choice. We
don't get many calls for those two here."
Standing, he made his way onto the stage and sat on
a stool as the Host made the selection in the
prompter.

"If the night turns cold,
And the stars look down,
You hug yourself on the cold, cold ground,
You wake the mornin, in a stranger's coat,
No one would you see. 
Ask yourself, who'd watch for me?
My only friend, who could it be, it's hard to say it,

I had to say it, but it's probably me.

When your belly's empty, and the hunger's so real,
And you're too proud to beg, and too dumb to steal,
You search the city, for you only friend, 
No one would you see,
Ask yourself, who'd watch for me? 
A solitary voice to speak out and set me free?
I'd hate to say it, I had to say it, but it's
probably me.

Your not the easiest person, I ever got to know, 
But it's hard for us both, to let our feelings show,
Some would say, I should let you go your way, 
You only make me cry, 
But if there's one guy, Just one guy, Who'd lay down
his life for you and I, 
I'd hate to say it, I had to say it, but it's
probably me. 

When the world's gone crazy, and it makes no sense, 
And there's only one voice that comes to your
defense,
When the Jury's out, and your eyes search the room, 
When one friendly face is all you need to see,
And if there's one guy, Just one guy, who'd lay down
his life for you and I,
I'd hate to say it, I had to say it, but it's
probably me.

I'd hate to say it, I had to say it, but it's
probably me.

I'd hate to say it, I had to say it, but it's
probably me.

The Vampire who had approached Pike at the entrance
met him as he stepped off the stage. ?Very good.
You?ve got a superb voice.? she grinned, shifting out
of her game face. Leaning in close, she pressed her
body against his. ?Let me know if you ever get tired
of having a pulse.? she winked and sauntered back to
her booth in the back. Pike could only shake his head
at the sheer incredulity of her offer and looked for
the Host.
The Host looked very depressed when he approached
Pike. Walking to him, he pulled a bright yellow
handkerchief from the breast pocket of his scarlet
suit and wiped his eyes. "Oh... What emotion! I love
that song. Now, down to business..." he stated as he
led Pike to the bar.

* * *

Buffy lay in bed unable to sleep. She had tried
counting sheep, drank warm milk, did push-ups and
sit-ups till she was exhausted and still she couldn't
sleep. "Three A.m. and I can't sleep. It's gonna be a
bad day at school tomorrow..." Buffy moaned to herself
as she tossed on her bed.
Resigned to her sleepless fate, she stood, pulled
on a sports bra, white tank top, and black jeans.
"Three Am. and I'm patrolling... God this destiny
thing bites..." she groaned after slipping a pair of
slim, small stakes into the breast pocket of her black
bike jacket. "Wonder if Merrick is still up." she
said, slipping out her window and dropping to the
ground in a run.
Striding down the street at a brisk pace, she
noticed someone tailing her. Deciding to lead him on
for a while, she took him on the long route to
Merrick's. Thinking quickly, she slipped behind an oak
growing on the street corner and began to quietly
ascend the branches. Looking down, she saw her pursuer
stop beneath the branches and look around in
bewilderment. ?Idiot...? Buffy thought before dropping
down on top of the shadowy figure below. 
She didn?t count on the figure below hearing her
almost silent fall, turn up, catch and swiftly pin her
to the tree trunk. Buffy looked in astonishment at
Jack?s smirking face. ?Hello B. Nice night out, Aye??
he said, as he let go of her and helped her up. Buffy
backed up a step.
?Who are you? And why are you following me?? she
said, turning very subtly into a defensive stance.
?Just keeping an eye on you. I made a promise.? he
replied, tracing his fingers around his chin as he
would had he a goatee. 
?What promise?? Buffy asked, crossing her arms in
curiosity.
?I?ll tell you about it someday, but not tonight.
Besides, I believe it would be beneficial to keep an
eye on you. You seem the type to attract trouble.? 
?Moi?? she said, feigning innocence. ?I know not of
which you speak.? 
?Right. And Ringo was a good drummer.? he said.
Seeing her blank stare, he narrowed his eyes at the
slim blonde. ?Ringo Starr...? From the Beatles?? he
asked. Finally seeing a nod of recognition, he dropped
his head. ?Now I feel old.?
Grinning, she patted Jack on the shoulder. ?I?m
kidding, my dad has alot of those old round black
things...?
?Records.?
?Right. Those.?
* * *

Lucius was a loyal servant. He had always done as
his master bid and never questioned his orders. So
when Master Ordiniconii commanded the Cauldron
prepared, he set out at once to summon the Master?s
vampire minions. He had bid them to find a Virgin who
was as pure as driven Snow, a flawless ruby to be
ground into fine powder, and Aqua Terra. The first
basement level was a room roughly the size of a
basketball court. One corner formed by an old fountain
filled with a rich black soil. Near the southern wall
stood an anvil the size of a coffee table, while the
western wall was made primarily of a thick solid steel
grate that could be raised into the ceiling. So here
he stood, in the Tower?s basement, at the base of the
spiral staircase looking at the ingredients with a
gourmand?s eye. A suitably terrified young brunette, a
flawless ruby the size of his fist, set attractively
on a silk draped tripod, and a case of Perrier. Lucius
nodded and gestured with his hand. From the round
earth filled fountain-like space, an earth Elemental
the size of a horse rose slowly. Shuffling slowly to
Lucius, the mindless mountain of soil awaited a
command.
Lucius deftly slipped the ruby into a doeskin bag,
and placed it atop an Anvil of a darkish metal.
Nodding to the massive Maul in the corner, the Earth
Elemental shuffled over and extended a large hand onto
the hammer?s grip. Lifting it with ease, the shuffling
mass moved back to the tall dark man by the anvil.
Lucius merely pointed to the leather shrouded Ruby and
said, ?Powder that.?
Stepping a bit back, Lucius watched as the
shuffling earth lifted the maul and slammed it
unerringly down onto the ruby. The hammer rose again,
and again until The Master?s chosen servant was
certain the gemstone was reduced to a very fine
powder. Opening the suspiciously untouched bag, he was
pleased to note that the jewel had in fact been
shattered into the grade the Master needed. He looked
at the mammoth soil-man and gestured back to the earth
filled fountain. ?Return.? he intoned as the Elemental
stepped into the tiled basin and sank with what
sounded like a sigh of comfort.
Lucius tucked the bag into his vest pocket and rang
a small gong on a table near the anvil. The ebony
skinned man waited as the shadows in the one unlit
portion of the room coalesced into a somewhat humanoid
form and stepped up to him. ?Yesss, Chosssen of the
Massster...? the shadow?s voiced seemed to sound from
every shadow in the room, creating a rather disturbing
echo effect. The bald man merely looked into the twin
pits of green hellish light that served as the
shadow?s eyes. ?Drain the girl, bring the blood to the
cauldron, and bring up that case.? he finished,
pointing his manicured finger to the crate of spring
water.
Halfway to the stair he stopped and turned back to
the shadow, which had been advancing on the nearly
catatonically frightened young girl. ?Bring every drop
to the cauldron and you may have the rest.? If the
shadow could have smiled, it would have. 
Britney Turgol?s last conscious thought, how she
would never see the fall Versace line, passed through
her mind as the thick cloying smell of decay engulfed
her senses as she felt swallowed by unnaturally thick
darkness.
* * *

Merrick rubbed his eyes and opened the door.
Clutching his smoking robe closer around him, his eyes
widened at the sight of his Slayer charge at his door
with a muscular young man who constantly looked back
towards the mansion?s courtyard. Merrick looked the
young man up from head to toe before laying a
quizzical look to Buffy. ?Merrick, this is Jack, he?s
a friend of Pike?s, and now mine from New York. he
already knows about our nightly exercises. Can we come
in??
Merrick mumbled for them to enter and they both
walked in, Jack making sure the door was secured and
shrugged off his leather coat. Merrick wordlessly held
up the British tradition of hospitality and placed the
coat on the coat rack before offering Buffy and Jack
tea.
?None for me thanks.? Buffy declined.
?Earl Grey if you?ve got it.? Jack said with an
easy grin.
?I?m British, of course I?ve got Earl Grey.?
Merrick mumbled indignantly as he headed into the
rather spacious kitchen, followed by his two visitors.
Jack leaned against the refrigerator as Buffy hopped
atop the butcher?s black and Merrick settled onto a
barstool. ?So what brings you and a visitor to the
Manor at...? Checking the oak panel clock on the wall,
?Three Am??
?Insomnia.? Buffy said.
?I?ve already seen all of the Infomercials.? Came
Jack?s answer.
?Ah... yes, the bane of midnight television. Well,
Elizabeth, you can join me in the Gymnasium. Jack, you
can watch, or well, watch actually. There?s not much
else to do here at 3 Am,? he said, glaring at Buffy.
?Save sleep...?
Jack watched Buffy run through various katas,
aerobics sets, then work on a set of varying dummies.
All through her training session, Jack kept up a
running commentary with Merrick. Continually surprised
by the accuracy and technical knowledge of Buffy?s new
friend, Merrick contemplated then proceeded to ask
Jack to teach Buffy some new techniques.
?Sure. Hey, Buffy, come here.? he said, walking
over to the Slayer.
* * *

Lucius carried the powdered ruby to the lowest
level of the bell tower. Feeling a cold draft on the
back of his neck, he knew that the wraith had fully
drained the young girl and was now bringing the vital
fluid down behind him. Stepping out of the stairwell,
Lucius saw his master standing behind a podium
intently studying a large book. ?Place the ingredients
on the altar Lucius, then you may have the night off.?
The handsome, bald black man bowed at the waist to
the darkly cloaked vampire and set the opened pouch on
the altar, arranging the powder neatly in the middle
of the round leather.
Turning slightly, the Wraith placed a silver basin
next to the powdered gemstone and swiftly dissipated.
Lucius watched the phantom flow back into the shadows;
presumably back into the upper basement.
Master Ordiniconii turned and saw his servant
watching the Wraith dissipate. ?That IS a tad
disturbing, isn?t it??
* * *

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 literally bumping into the Master after having
broken into the bell tower to hide from other gang
members who had wanted him dead.
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 whose 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 floor mats.
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 will 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 clear 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. The Watcher sighed in annoyance.
?You could have told us that to begin with.? He turned
to the Slayer. ?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, Master of the
Seven House, Teacher of four arts, Brewer of a mean
Lap Sang. 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 softly and smiled.
* * *

Lucius walked out of the coffee shop with a
cappuccino, 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
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 High
school. 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 beyond 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 LAPD and NYPD. I would appreciate your
cooperation as well.?
Mr. Graham was slowly 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.
?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.? Buffy 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 alive? 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. Pausing at his door, he looked down at
Opening his door, his eyes shot to the digital clock
over his TV. ?Three hours till 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 bell tower.
Is it just me or is that rather ironic?? 
?All this time, Merrick, Pike, and I have been
hunting this whacko, and he?s been on the school
grounds all this time!?? Man, 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 TV show.? He said, grinning
slightly.?
?Yeah, But this isn?t a TV 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 bell tower. 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, his Ming style
silk slippers shuffling softly on the clean stone
steps. 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 slid into a
duffle bag. ?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 convertible 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 vampires test their skills out on her, to try and
make a name for themselves.? The Watcher growled in
reproach as he ran his hand through his silvering
hair. ?I can?t believe The Dark One has been in the
bell tower the entire time.?
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
its fountain cradle, the master paced slowly before
the angry Slayer, stroking his thin beard in thought.
?My dear, dear Slayer. Have I not told you time and
again, 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 gravely 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
Apocalypse, 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 every
time 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. Extremely
uncomfortable due to having everything below her navel
encased in thick earth, she dreaded facing her Mother
over the next laundry load. ?So let me get this
straight, Tall, Dark, and Ugly summoned you with an
amulet, commanded you to build these subbasements,
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...? the baritone
took on a pleading tone.
Buffy grinned and leaned down to whisper near the
left garnet.
* * *

The three crusaders finally reached the tower as
the sun reached its zenith above darkening storm
clouds. 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 slowly 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, the 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
accursed along the floor and his Master?s face split
into a wide smile, baring his demonic visage to the
rune inscribed ceiling. Extending a hand to his
servant, Lucius unwrapped the bundle and held an
ancient Sumerian broadsword, 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 the ancient blade, before tendrils
of it 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 British man 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 man
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 shoes nearly exploded
from 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 its 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 tensely as Lucius knelt
before his master. Slowly she crept off the mound and
used 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 receive 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 its 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
scraping sound from the stairwell that caught his ear.
The Master dropped the nearly desiccated 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 as
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. Stumbling 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 and
yet another, when 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
through the vampire?s fingers severing the four digits
cleanly. One of Buffy?s favorite memories from her
time in L.A. occurred 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. As 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
garnet 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 snarl, she
ripped the atrophied organ from his chest cavity
causing Master Ordiniconii to roar 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. The teen?s 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 the bolt passed harmlessly through the
Wraith?s throat and sank into the cinderblock wall
behind it. 
Pike pulled his gold cross necklace from his white
button up and brandished it before the undead. The
Wraith backpedaled 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 slowly liquefied 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 before
wincign form the cross. ?You can put that away now
luv.? Pike slipped the cross beneath his shirt as she
stepped slowly down the stairs; sauntered closer to
the muscled teenager and draped her arms over his
shoulders. Pike took a long moment contemplating his
future, his close call, and grinned. He slipped his
arm around her waist and brushed an arrant lock of
hair back behind her ear. 
?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 forward 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 rose 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.
?Sorry Merrick.? Buffy ducked her head in apology.
Jack, having noticed that the Elemental was
standing behind Buffy, 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?? When the earthen being
grumbled in an affirmative tone, 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 reply from 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 its remains. He crouched over the
ectoplasm lathered steps and poked it with the tip of
his broadsword 
Jack followed and peaked over the elder Brit?s
shoulder. ?Oh, that was professional. 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.
?I agree. How could Pike have 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 left
nostril 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 paraphernalia, and miscellaneous
herbs, while Buffy clutched an armload of weaponry.
Jack took Merrick?s box, and headed for his
convertible, 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 convertible 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 about her future. ?She?ll graduate high
school, marry, and give Sheila and I beautiful
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. Rosenberg??
?Yes? Can I help you Mr.??
?Covington. Martin 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. ?I didn?t know she
had died.? He stated with a suitable amount of
sadness. ?Wonder what the old bat left me.? 
Martin 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. Martin pulled a
bundle of papers from his briefcase. ?They basically
name your daughter as the sole beneficiary of a
considerable estate that, at last estimation, was
worth well over two hundred and fifty million dollars.
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.? He said, periodically
pushing his sunglasses further up his nose with the
tip of his finger.
Hearing a tiny sneeze, he looked down at a small
auburn headed cupid who was wiping her button nose on
the back of her tiny hand. Crouching down, Matthias
Covington pulled a monogrammed handkerchief from the
pocket of his suit and gently wiped little Willow?s
cute little nose. After losing a tug-of-war match with
the little girl over the hankie, He grinned a half
grin and stood, turning back to the cherub?s father,
who was engrossed in the will of his late Aunt
Alexandra. ?That is your copy of the will, Mr.
Rosenberg. 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.
Again, I?d like to extend my deepest condolences, I
happened to take over for my Father as Lexie?s Lawyer
and I enjoyed working with her immensely.? The young
man said with genuine regret in his voice while
mentally wincing at the slip of using her nickname.
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 forever
and ever. That sound ok?? He asked, pushing a red
curl behind her tiny ear.
?Yeah. This is Betty,? she said, holding out her
dolly, a blonde cowboy doll with pale blue eyes.
?Is Betty short for Elizabeth?? he said,
straightening the dolly?s hair.
?Uh huh. It?s short for Lizzybit? she said,
struggling with the word.
?Unbelievable...? he said and nodded to Mr.
Rosenberg who absently nodded to the departing young
man, stepped off the porch and walked to the curb.
Slipping on a fedora, he slipped back into his black
convertible 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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