Fic: Vin Slayer 2/7 The Magnificent Seven/Buffy: The Vampire Slayer
Series: The Prophecy of the Seven Title: Vin Slayer Author: Lopaka Tanu And Erika Tanner Disclaimer: I do not own Magnificent Seven or Buffy: The Vampire Slayer Characters: The Seven, Buffy Characters, Steven Travis. Words: Fandom: Magnificent Seven/Buffy: The Vampire Slayer Pairing: Ezra/Chris, Vin/Charlotte, Casey/JD, Vin/JD - Others. Rating: Adult Warnings: Language, Violence, Character Death, Sexual Situation. Summary: Vin is the unexpected victim of chance. Given his actions, he will become an unwilling pawn in the forces of light and dark. This is his story. Part 2 of the Vin Slayer verse. Author's Note: Unbetaed, so beware. It is one of only four M7 collaborations I ever wrote. The series was never finished, so this has never been posted before. ______________________________________
Than watched at the young man changed from a man to a wolf. Than saw the wolf run out the door. The older man was checking out the young lady. They were the only ones left. Than got up and walked over them.
Josiah, who had been helping set Casey up in her chair, was startled by the sudden appearance of Than. "I had thought you gone. Why exactly are you here?"
"I came here to find who has killed my gang." Than looked down at the older man.
Adjusting his glasses, Josiah sighed. "I am sorry, young man, but that is something best left up to the police."
"They can't help. This thing killed them has been killing from LA to here. Not just humans, but vampires and demons."
"Good lord, that's all we need, another demon army." Josiah put a bandage to Casey's forehead from the box on the table. "There has been enough blood shed by the master's people." After he made sure she was okay, he stood behind her chair intent to push her out. "We must warn the council about this at once. Travis will notify both sides of this new menace before it strikes here..."
"It's too late for that." Than told the man watching the young lady. "I found a lair of vampires and demons dead on my way here."
"Oh! Well that's just bloody fantastic." Looking to the ceiling, Josiah glared. "Anything else you want to do for me this night?" A cawing sound from the doorway had him looking at the double doors. "Illuminos!" A bolt of energy shot out from his hand and turned the crow into an explosion of black feathers.
Than looked from where the bird was to the wizard that had killed it. "You have a problem with crows?"
"Portents of doom, I do not need." He stared at the pile of scorched feathers. Nothing ever worked out like he wanted. Waving at Than to come join him at the table, he sat down next to Casey. "Ms. Wells, I suggest you keep your body fluids on the inside if you wish to remain alive." When she did not respond, he shook his head in dismay. "Child needs to learn some stamina if she ever hopes to become a Wiccan."
Than sat down and looked at the young woman, then at the older man as he sat down. "Nathan Jackson, but I'm called Than."
"What?" Josiah adjusted his glasses on his nose. "Oh, sorry, Josiah Sanchez. Current librarian of SunnyDale High and former Watcher of the only slayer."
"Slayer?" Than questioned, wanting to know more.
"Yes, the Vampire Slayer. Her name was Sarah, she was my charge for two years before she died in child birth three months ago. Bled to death on the street even as the boy left her body. She had just sent that monster you saw kidnap the lawyer earlier, to hell. It must have been too much stress for her, my beautiful Sarah." He took a moment to remember. Clearing his throat, he went on. "Anyways, she was the last in a line of chosen ones. In each generation this born a chosen one, she alone will stand against the forces of darkness. Well not anymore."
"What about her son?" Than noted the man's sadness as he put his elbows on the table and put his chin in his hands.
"The boy was named Adam. His grandmother came and picked him up at the hospital three weeks after the fight that ended Sarah's life and disappeared." Josiah stood up again and moved towards his office. "Can I offer you something, tea or soda perhaps?"
"Won't he be a slayer when he grows up? don't have a beer do you?"
"No to both. A slayer is not chosen by her blood line, only girls can be slayers, mind you." Josiah came out with a bottle of amber liquid. "I am afraid Scotch is the only thing I have. I can store only one bottle back there without that sniveling shit of a principal finding out."
"Scotch will work. Then how is a slayer chosen."
"The magical equivalent of enee-meenie-minie-moe." Laughing to himself, Josiah poured two glasses of the scotch, then handed one to Than. "There is no real rhyme or reason, it is just a random event. There are slayers never slayers that shouldn't be. They all die before they get a chance to be more or less than a slayer. It is a sad fact in the life of these young girls, but a slayer usually shouldn't expect to see her eighteenth birthday. My Sarah was one of those not so fortunates. The night of her seventeenth birthday she and Chris had sex. The result was her becoming pregnant and him losing his soul. The pregnancy is hard on any woman, but on a slayer it is often fatal, as is the case with Sarah."
Chuckling at the look Than was giving him, Josiah slapped the young man on the back. "You are probably wondering why I am telling you this so freely. Truth is, we are all going to die. The master, when he learns something butchered his people, will order a full scale invasion of the Hellmouth to free him and then conquer the world. Travis won't stand for it, he'll order the warlocks to use their dark magics and level the master and Sunnydale before either can become too great a threat. It'll be bloody chaos."
"Why don't you leave?" Than took a sip of the scotch.
"Because, what you say is true, and I am already too late in my actions. I should have left the moment Sarah's mother disappeared with her son. I should not have contacted the council about it, I should simply have gone to them. But I am a sentimental old fool and let these children guide my actions." He patted Casey's hand with his free one. "They thought to retake the Hellmouth with magic. At that time there were still four of them left. One was slain by a Demon, she was a vapid, but shrewd person. Another simply disappeared after they had opened the portal. He could be in any number of hell dimensions or possibly none of them. The spell they were casting was a closing spell, meant to seal the Hellmouth forever, but they were interrupted and it cost them dearly. Aside from physical injuries, leaving this girl here crippled and her boyfriend JD injured, their ability to cast magics of any sort was stripped. I believe it will come back eventually, but they should never have done it in the first place!"
Than looked at his drinking glass as he took in the information the watcher was giving him.
Josiah looked at his watch, peered at it closely, then from far away. "Where is that boy? Usually his midnight runs only last a half hour, it's been more than a hour already."
"Maybe he had found a bitch in heat." Than said with a thought of the finding a female dog and doing his thing with her.
"Get your mind out of the gutter, JD is loyal to a fault. Sometimes I have to beat him off Casey with a stick just to get him to rest." Josiah snorted at a memory and then threw back the last of his scotch.
"Just like any dog." Than smirked..
"He is a werewolf, for your information! He has some standards, not much, but some."
"Werewolf, dog it's basically the same time."
"Hardly! You Americans have no education. Wolves, unlike dogs, are highly discriminative in their partners. The same could be said with you yanks." Pouring both of them another glass of Scotch, he slammed the bottle down. "You'd never hear a proper British werewolf being so careless about sex!"
"If you say so." Than took a drink.
"Right proper, they are, then again, I would know! I dated one for six months before her pack called her back." Josiah peered at his watch again. "That boy should be getting back here. I will believe I will go search for him." Shooting up to his feet, Josiah immediately fell flat on his face. "Or may be I will stay here and wait."
Than looked down at him as he finished his drink.
"Do give me a hand up!"
Than got up and fell on his butt. "Reckon I'm not going to be much help."
"I guess not." The doors burst open and all Josiah could see of the intruder was a pair of black motorcycle boots and a canine on a chain. Recognizing the wolf form, he smiled. "JD, there you are!"
Than looked up at the intruder trying to focus on him.
Holding up the crossbow, Vin aimed it at Than. "You are the last. I knew you would come."
"What the hell are talkin' bout? And get that thang from my face!" Than moved his hand upward toward the bow.
Vin gave him a vacant smile. Reaching down to his chain belt, he unhooked a large leather bag from the loop next to JD's dog chain. He up-ended the bag and emptied the contents in front of Than. The bloody head fell out and splatted on the ground. "And then there was one."
"You bastard." Than snarled as the shock wore off.
Leaning in to Than, Vin hissed at the black youth's face. "I am the one who decides who dies, not you! Death is my gift, mine!" He brought the crossbow up to shoot the Than but the doors opening behind him startled him enough that he lost his targeting. Angrily, he did a double axel and fired at the intruder, reloading before his boots landed on the stairs leading up into the stacks.
Chris ducked the arrow as it sailed past him. Ezra squeaked as the arrow embedded itself mere inches from his manhood.
"Christos," Vin shouted, rage dripping from the one word. "Prepare to die, Vampire!"
Chris took in the slayer, he frowned as he noted that it wasn't Sarah. "What happened to having a pretty thing for a slayer?"
Vin shot another bolt at the Vampire, cursing when it failed to strike him. He unhitched JD's chain from his belt and sent a warning glance at the werewolf. "Get out of sight, stay down." He reloaded the crossbow and looked up.
JD went to Josiah.
Chris moved toward Vin swiftly.
Firing one last time, Vin dropped the crossbow and pulled the broadsword from his back.
Chris caught hold of Vin's wrists as he brought the sword down. "What's wrong with Josiah?"
"Yo, dude, the watcher is stone drunk!" Than ended his statement with a fit of giggles.
"Why should you care, beast? Either of you? When I kill this vampire, Human, you are next!" Vin spun and jerked his wrists from Chris' hands. The momentum allowed him to sweep the sword in a side arc and slice Chris across the chest as he jumped back. "Hold still and I will end this quickly, that is all the mercy I will show you, beast!"
Josiah watched them fight with rapt fascination. "Astounding, if I didn't know better, I'd say the boy was more than Human."
Ezra moved carefully around the arrow and watched the fight.
Chris flipped backwards as Vin swung at him again.
Growling out his frustration, Vin launched another assault with the sword, this one faster than any of the previous. He landed a direct hit on Chris' face and sliced open his cheek from eye to chin. "Surrender, monster!"
"hardly." Chris told him. "You surrender." Chris launched himself forward, grabbed Vin's wrists as he went over Vin's head, pulling Vin over backwards.
Vin twisted in to the roll and and kicked Chris in the nuts. "Let go of me, you son of a bitch! I won't fall for your tricks this time!"
Chris tightened him hold on Vin as he howled in pain, not willing to let the slayer loose.
Not one to give in easily, Vin head butted Chris in the chest. He made sure to break several ribs with his second butt, he slammed Chris into the wall. Doing a backwards whiplash, he landed on his feet. With a curl of his hands up, two stakes came from wrist sheaths. He aimed the first at Chris' chest and drove downwards.
Chris shifted his hold, forcing Vin to slam the stake into the wall.
Vin brought his other arm around and clocked Chris with the flat side of the stake. When it broke too, he screamed his rage and grabbed the vampire by his collar. "If I have to do it bare handed, then so be it!" Twisting the material until it cut in to Chris' neck, Vin snarled.
Ezra held the sword's blade wrapped in leather and used the handle like club. He brought it down on the back of Vin's head hard enough to knock even a vampire unconscious. When all the slayer did was shake his head to clear it, Ezra picked up his swing and struck with all his strength. This time Vin went down like a ton of bricks. "Oh thank god!" Dropping the sword, Ezra wiped his brow. "I had no idea what I'd do if that damn slayer had been any more resilient." Kicking Vin off Chris, Ezra smirked down at the vampire. "Need a hand?"
When Chris failed to respond, Ezra shrugged. He looked around at the damage the duo had done during their fight. Chairs were tossed about like confetti, the table was lilting to one side, the banister had been sliced in three pieces, and there were twenty books that would need rebinding from the V the sword had cut in them. His gaze fell on the dazed Watcher and gang member and he adjusted what was left of his business suit. Their eyes took in his lack of pants and underwear and he smiled. Making a grand sweeping gesture, Ezra pointed to the still unconscious, but stirring Vin. "One slayer, delivered in full."
END SCENE
Here We Go
Chris came to and surged in to a sitting position, his eyes wide with fear. A hand clutched at his neck to make sure his head was still there. Sighing, he let his arm fall weakly back to his side. The next thing he did was take in his surroundings. He was on a table in the library at Sarah's high school. There were strange people milling about and he didn't recognize any of them. Off to one side, the crowd parted and he saw a restrained figure that sent chills all the way to his soul. What the appearance of a new slayer meant had tears in his eyes. "Josiah?"
Josiah looked over at Chris, then walked over to him. "Chris."
He turned his head to glance over his shoulder at the approaching watcher. "Where is Sarah?"
Josiah looked back toward the resisted figure, then at the vampire. "Sarah's dead, she died in child birth."
Chris blinked back tears as he looked away. "How did I get here? Why do I feel like that boy is the new slayer?"
"When the spell was cast, you returned from hell to bring the new slayer. It would seem he is." Josiah was still puzzled about that.
"How was I sent to bring the new slayer?" Chris started to get off the table, but was pushed back by an energy barrier. "Is this cage spell really necessary?"
"Not sure of that. It is." Josiah glared at the vampire.
"Can you at least get me some clothes?" Chris was exasperated, the Watcher had been stone-walling him from the start and was getting on his nerves.
"This is a library not a clothing store." Josiah shifted his stands.
"I don't know what the hell your problem is, but deal and let me the hell go!" He was ready to rip the Watcher a new asshole. All he wanted to do was find out what the hell was going on and deal with the bastard who did this to him.
"My problem is you tortured me, then you caused Sarah to go into premature labor causing her to die," Josiah growled.
Chris bounced off the barrier as he lunged at Josiah. "Labor? Are you kidding me? Sarah is my girl! Who's the asshole who knocked her up?"
"You don't remember do you?" Josiah smirked at the vampire.
"Remember what? The last thing that I can picture clearly is waking up next to Sarah and then... Fucking that lawyer." He turned to look around the room of people. Spotting Ezra against a wall, now adorned in a suit, his eyes narrowed. "I felt this sudden need to be here. Dragging that," he gestured at said Lawyer, "with me, I came here and fought that boy! Then waking up naked on this damn table like some sorta weird lab specimen in a mystical cage. Now will you tell me what the hell is happening or do I have to break out and wring it from your scrawny watcher neck?"
"You are the one who got her pregnant, but it turned you into Christos." Josiah watched the vampire's face. "you caused a lot of pain. Sarah had to fight you to close the hellmouth when the master was trying to come through it. The fight caused her to go into labor which killed her. That was three months ago, we needed a new slayer. We casted the spell to get a guide to the new slayer and got you."
"I am not a guide to the current slayer, I don't even know who that shit is!" Chris hit the barrier again, this time it phased a bit before rebuffing him.
Josiah frowned. "I realize that, but I don't have the answer this question. When I do, I'll tell you." Josiah stepped back and turned.
"Come back here, Josiah! I'm not through with you!" Chris hit the barrier again and this time rebounded into the other side, froze against it as it zapped him and then fell unconscious again on top of the table.
Travis held up his hands to get the attention of the assembled watchers. "The final ritual has been performed and confirmed what we had feared. This boy is the new slayer. Be silent!" He glared them in to silence before continuing. "It is unknown how this came about, but clearly this child is of the slayer line. Our scouts outside the Hellmouth are claiming they have located the next in line to receive the ability if this child were to die. We can trust their judgment this time for even the oracles of the powers have confirmed she will be the next slayer to be called. That leaves us with a few options, the most important of which being do we allow this boy to live and be the new slayer," he gave the glaring Vin a sad look, "or do we take the gift he was never meant to posses, which means his life as well?"
"How did he end up with the gift in the first place?" Asked a blue demon. "That's what I want to know."
"What part of 'unknown' don't you understand." Ella smacked the demon across the face then hissed as he pulled a cross on her. "When the Master rises, yours will be the first clan we wipe from the face of this disgusting world!"
The only other demon, a black leather clad demon with a leather mask folded his arms across his chest and watched the fourteen watchers, four lawyers, slayer, two vampires, Than, and the blue demon with contempt. "The Valtar and Scourge have no care what you do with the mortal. The entire slayer line is a nuisance that will die out."
Travis looked to Josiah. "What is your opinion on these recent turn of events?"
"I can not say for sure, but I would like to do some checking. I'll need a bit of time. Excuse me." Josiah told Travis. "Mubahto will you come with me."
"No! You will decide now or we will make the decision for you!" Ella stepped forward, her blonde hair glittering in the light of the Library. "Before coming here, I had just come from covey of Serpine and their followers. The head Serpine was spread across their meeting hall in the cliffs near the beach, his skin hanging to dry in the rocks while his guts painted the walls. If he wasn't such a valuable ally of the Master, we would have praised the work. However, the fact that he was so valuable and powerful has caused a great concern as to the effectiveness of this treaty process. Until I arrived, I had no idea what could have possibly done such a beautiful job on the Serpine, now it is all to clear.
"Make your decision, Watchers, and then hand over my Christos!" Ella started across the room towards the table they had enchanted to hold the other vampire. As she passed the slayer, his foot came out and kicked her across the room through a book shelf.
"It wasn't the vampire that did it." Than spoke up as things fell in place in his head.
"Who are you, and how could someone like you possibly know anything about this?" The blue demon grew bold at the sign of a possibly weak prey.
"Because the vampire just came here and he wasn't in LA when my gang was killed by the thing that killed you ally." Than's eyes narrowed as he glared at the demon.
"The Serpine are no allies of ours." Snorting, he stroked his white beard. "I am D'Hoffryn, head of the Vengeance Demons, and you are?"
"What's it to you?" Than challenged.
"Nothing, just thought to be friendly." Holding up his hands and backed away, he played the part of the bumbling oaf to the hilt. He even made sure to trip over his own feet and land on Vin. Reaching out to catch himself, he touched the young man's face and whispered a few words. "Forget." Vin's eyes glowed black then returned to their normal blue. D'Hoffryn tried to stand but tripped over his robes. His horns collided with Vin's forehead and the Slayer was knocked unconscious. "Watch where you are sitting, fool, you could have damaged my horns!" Placing a hand to his horns, D'Hoffryn felt to see if they were all right. "I have had enough of this. I am satisfied this child is the new slayer." Turning to Travis, he smirked. "Good luck." Then he disappeared in a flash of lightening and swirling dust.
Travis shook his head. Having had enough of this circus he raised his hands to silence the chatter that followed after D'Hoffryn's departure. "All right, there are fourteen, it only takes thirteen to cast a deciding vote on the life of a slayer. As senior Watcher here, I shall over see the vote and mete out the decision. By a show of hands, how many vote that we take the life of this boy tonight and restore the slayer line?"
Travis looked around and counted the four raised hands. "Four."
Josiah, glared at them then turned his back on his fellow watchers. Cleaning his glasses, he looked down at the floor. "Just who will be watching this new Slayer then?"
"Charlotte, you will be his watcher." Travis told the group.
Josiah nearly dropped his glasses at that. "Excuse me? Did I hear you correctly, Charlotte? That woman has no experience with a Slayer, much less a Hellmouth! I strongly disagree with this decision!"
Travis looked at Josiah. "She is my choice."
"That is outlandish! As the most experienced Watcher in these matters, it should fall to me..."
"You have other concerns at the moment."
Josiah, cut off mid rant, looked at the senior watcher and blinked confused. "What would that be?"
Travis looked over at Casey and JD. Then Travis looked at Josiah. "You are relieved of you duties here."
"On what grounds?" Josiah held himself back, clutching at his glasses with clenched fists.
"You need to get your priorities right."
Breathing through his nose to clear it out, Josiah broke his glasses in half from the strength of his anger. "I see. Thank you for coming. I am sure Charlotte and I can handle things from here. That is assuming that I will still be retained here in an advisory roll and by some miracle you are not too stupid to realize how valuable my input is as well."
"You may do that." Travis told the watcher. "Advise only."
"Of course, wouldn't want to have anybody of experience gain the upper hand in a potentially volatile situation!" Josiah looked at Vin with sympathy. "I make one warning to you, if you or any of your people bring harm to this boy from this situation, I will hang all of you in front of the rest of the council. In case you were interested in why I voted to take his life, it would be to spare him from people who would do more harm than any good I could ever imagine."
"That's enough Josiah." Travis said as he turned to Charlotte. "You need to find out what you can so you handle this situation."
Nodding, her eyes shown with pleasure. "I will do my best, sir."
Travis looked at Josiah. "You help her when she needs it."
"Of course, what else would I do?" Turning away from the other watchers, Josiah headed over the the huddling figures of Casey and JD. "According to the treaty, the final battlefield for the Hellmouth is here, Sunnydale. Now that your slayer is here, you are no longer needed. I expect you to leave immediately."
Travis sighed. He looked at Charlotte. "You need anything?"
"I have my books, my weapons, and my various supplies, anything else I can obtain, sir." Smiling, she gave a curt nod that bobbed the twists of hair she had hanging from the crown of her head.
Travis walked over to Ezra and Ella. "Everything in order for you two?"
Ella shook her head to clear the last of the dust off. "No, it is not in order!"
"Why is that?"
Moving forward, she grabbed Travis by the tie. "Christos is still in a cage, there is something on the loose that is killing my people, and your slayer insulted me!"
Travis pulled the tie from her. "I believe that your question about what has been killing your people has been answered."
"Oh, Come now, you don't actually believe that boy is responsible. Don't give me that shit, I can smell your fear when it is mentioned." Stepping in close to him, she scented him. "You are just as scared about this thing as I am. What is a threat to one is a threat to both." Ella glanced over his shoulder at Than. "You said this thing killed your gang, your 'Human' gang." She stared back at Travis. "Tell me, isn't a slayer supposed to protect Humans at all costs?"
Josiah gestured at Than to remain silent. He knew that if Travis and the other Watchers were made aware that Vin had done it, they would kill him right here and now.
Than decided to heed the older man's signal for silence. He needed to learn more about what was going on before he decided to do anything and if anyone was going to kill that 'boy' it was him
Travis swallowed quickly then nodded his head in acknowledgment. "It could not have been the slayer. We will abide the ruling of WolfRam and Hart on this."
"The young man here is indeed the slayer. The vessel of the summoning spell has confirmed it." Ezra straightened his tie.
"What about the treaty, you twit?" Ella, still directly in front of Travis, growled over her shoulder at the Southern Lawyer.
Ezra raised an eyebrow. "I can assure you that I am not a twit. I know the treaty. The slayer is the only magic that has come into the zone. We will find out who is doing the killing. It will be taken care of. As far as I know you could have killed your own allies to cause trouble. It's under investigation."
Laughing, Ella tossed her hair over her shoulder. "Travis, this is why I believe you kill Lawyers before you deal with them." She back handed Ezra hard enough for him to fall on the floor unconscious. "All right, Lilah, lets try this again. What about the standards of the treaty?"
Clearing her throat, the young lawyer stepped forward and smiled at the three remaining combatants, earning a glare from all. "Right, okay, I am new here and only got the gist of it on the flight up from L.A." A growl from the Scourge representative and she jumped. "Okay, moving right along. The articles of the treaty are divided into ten standards, each standard a law written in stone, blood, and life. To break any of the laws is to forfeit your claim on the HellMouth and your life.
"First standard, all combatants must state their intent to control the HellMouth before the slayer is found. Second standard, they must have all their people on the hellmouth at the time of their statement of intent. Third standard, no side is to take control of the HellMouth by calling upon outside forces. Fourth standard, no outside forces may influence the outcome of the battle for control of the hellmouth. Fifth standard, with preclusion of the fourth standard in effect, all combantants must cease all hostile activities among themselves at the HellMouth in order to band together and fight the outside influence. Until the outside influence is defeated, the battle cannot continue.
"Sixth standard, if standards four and five are in effect, no combatants in the war for control of the HellMouth may influence the failure or success of their enemies to gain favor or strategy in the battle for the HellMouth on penalty of death of all one's people. Seventh standard, until such time as the slayer is found and brought into play on the HellMouth, all life of demons and humans will continue on as normal, demons who feed on humans must do so without harming them or find food outside the HellMouth during this time. Sidebar, no Vampires shall be made during this time as it is considered killing of potential combatants and adding to enemy ranks. Eigth standard is that there will be no fighting among competing force of control of the HellMouth until after the Slayer is brought into play. Nineth standard being that whoever controls the HellMouth at the end of the war, must do so with the combatant that is already on the HellMouth at start of the war. Tenth and final standard, all decisions are final.
"Thus, the slayer is here, all who wished to Control the HellMouth must be here or else they have lost their chance." Sighing, Lilah looked down at her feet then back up to Ella. "I am sorry, but in the case of Christos, aka Chris Larabee, aka one fourth of the Scourage of Europe, aka The demon with the face of an angel, he is part of our negotiations, thus is a non combatant. You can claim no right to him at this time or any point in the future as he now belongs to WolfRam and Hart. As for the killer of your people, it is unfortunate, but not unexpected. We can not be sure who did it, but if we find out it was one of those trying to control the outcome of this battle, we will personally guarrantee to hand them over to you to be dealt with. If it was in fact the slayer, you are shit out of luck. Which brings me to your third charge, he insulted you. You are a vampire, he is a slayer, get used to it. We decide that Christos/Chris is to remain as part of our entourage in the HellMouth. You gotta problem with that, vamp bitch, take it up with your lawyer." Bending down, she placed a letter in Ezra's jacket. "Have a nice stay, bottom boy."
Standing up again, she looked around the room. "Well, that looks like it concludes our Business. And in twenty-four hours you have a war to put on. Good luck." With that, she smiled and walked out of the room followed by the other two lawyers.
"You heard the lady, Ella. I believe it is time to take my live." Travis told her.
Ella growled, but stepped back from the senior watcher. "I will get you Travis, and your little slayer too!" With a cackle, she kicked his several of his watchers out of her way and stormed out of the Library for the second time in two days.
Travis rolled his eyes. Why did he have to deal with this bunch.
Charlotte picked herself up from the floor, rubbing her sore knee as she stood. "What do we do with these people, sir?"
The Scourge represenative glared at them and then down at Ezra. "Lawyers!" He disappeared in a flash of smoke.
"You can put them in your office."
"My office, Travis, just because you have placed the slayer in her custody does not give you right to hand her my life as well." Glaring at the older man, he put a hand to his head in order to ward off a headache. "Just leave, I will take care of them. The same goes for you, Charlote, I have the most experience with children and can assure you the slayer is perfectly fine in my hands for the night."
"No." Travis walked out.
END SCENE
Here We Go
Josiah put the last of the rebound books on the shelf with a sigh of disgust. He would have to repair these sometime soon, they had taken a rather bad beating, again. Shelves were always being broken in this library, little wonder he still had a job. At the sound of the double doors swinging open, a smile lit his face. "Good, you have the replacement parts for the battle Axes. I am surprised you know so much about midevil weaponry."
"You would be surprised at what I know." Than told the older man as he laid the parts on the table.
"Perhaps we can put that knowledge to good use. I am glad you stayed on and decided to help me out." Wiping the last of the shelf off, he started down the stairs in to the library proper. "With the rest of my people either incapcitated, missing, or dead, I feared my time on this Earth was not much longer. It still might be limited given this new slayer, who knows where his loyalties lie?"
"Have you figured out why he's the slayer and not a girl?" Than asked moving the replacement parts so they could get to the different ones.
"No, and that fact above all others confounds me." Josiah picked up one of the damaged battle axes and removed the blade from the shaft, glaring at the metal studs that had worn out of the former handle. "There is no trace what-so-ever of magical or mystical intervention. This morning, after he finally woke from being conked out by D'Hoffryn's horns, he found he couldn't even remember his own name. I had Casey run a finger print analysis and he came back a runaway from Texas, wanted in places from El Paso to L.A. for suspicion of robbery to illegal gambling. He lead a perfectly charmed life up til three months ago when he all but disappeared, or so the police's sources claim. Seems they disappeared too."
"Isn't that about the time that your slayer died?" Than asked as he worked on one the axes too.
"Yes," he sighed deeply, "Sarah bled to death exactly three months ago yesterday. When one slayer dies, another is called in her place to fight the forces of darkness. Strange, but I fear more for this slayer than any other. I shall have plenty of time to watch over and guide him at least."
"Why do you fear so much for him?" Than asked as he looked up at the watcher.
"Because so little about him is known. The boy has lived on the streets for the past thirteen years, lord knows what he has done to surive. The savage nature of the destruction he commited in the name of being a slayer has never been heard of before. I did a little research after they left this morning and found out about the Serpine more than I cared to." Josiah shivered with unfelt chills. "Let's just say that they are not your average demon, and leave it at that."
Than nodded. "I've seen what he can do. How are you going ot get him to do anything?"
"A good effect of the losing of his memory is he doesn't know he can do those things. With the proper guidance, he can become a true slayer. That is partially the reason I wished it was me that was his Watcher. Another reason, I do not trust Charlotte. She was too eager to agree and to please that pompus blow hard, Travis." Josiah adjusted his new glasses in agitation. "He is going to be going to school here to finish up his legal education so that I can keep an eye on him." Smiling, Josiah glanced at Than. "I had Casey take the liberty of looking in to your file, you also have yet to graduate."
"it is not important to me." Than told hte other man as he removed the shaft from a axe blade.
"Too bad." Josiah stripped another battle ax and set the blade down on the table. "School starts tomorrow, your schedule, course books and the supplies you will need are on the book return desk."
"Are you telling me I have to go to school?" Than looked at Josiah.
"That is exactly what I am saying. What you do with your life afterwards is your decision, but you will have a formal education." He snorted at that. "At least was passes an education in these poorly antiquidated schools."
"What if I just leave?" Than asked the watcher. He looked the man.
"Then I will not stop you, but I would miss the help."
Than watched the man, trying to decide what to do.
Josiah raised an eyebrow, but continued to strip the axes of their blades.
"I'll think about it." Than said as went back to work on the axes.
"You do that." Josiah, stripped the last ax and picked up a fresh handle.
END SCENE
Here We Go
Charlotte stood in the center of her classroom. The quaintly named English Teacher position suddenly opened and here she was in the perfect position to fill it. It was amazing the things these Americans were willing to overlook because it would be too much trouble to question. Which is to say they were too lazy to care at all. The room was stripped of all those annoying posters, hideous art projects, and ghastly decorations. Now they were bare white walls, sterile desks, and fresh chalks in the cleaned trays. A proper class room.
Vin walked in to room with a wolf dog in tow. He looked around at the clean room.
Catching sight of the slayer, Charlotte smiled. He certainly cleaned up well. Though the thought of him with a few blood streaks and wild looking from last night made her gasp. "Vin."
Vin walked up to her. "Howdy and this is JD." Vin patted JD's head.
"Ah yes, Mr. Dunne. How nice to meet both of you." Gesturing at a desk, she walked up to her own. "Please, have a seat, I have a few questions I want to ask."
Vin watched her as he sat down in one seat and propote his feet on another desk. Making JD lay down next to him.
Charlotte sat back against her desk and studied the slayer.
Vin looked her over.
Clearing her throat, she took a deep breath and held it. "Mr. Tanner, Vin, I am your Watcher, Charlotte Richmond. You may call me Charlotte."
Vin watched her, taking in her body. He wondered what she looked like under her clothes, probably real nice. He gaze stopped on her breasts.
"Tonight shall be your first official night of patroling duties, Vin. There are some ground rules to go over before we go." Holding up her hands, she ticked a list off her fingers. "First, do what I tell you when I tell you. I won't tell you much, but it could be crucial. This is essentially your first time patroling and it will be dangerous. Second, you must never let your guard down. Third, if you feel something out of the ordinary, tell me immeadietly. We are going to start honing your instincts and I will be writing it down so we can compare it later for testing. That is about it for now, any questions?"
"I already know this. why do I need you?"
Straightening up, Charlotte's eyes narrowed. "Because without my guidance, you won't last five minutes out there. This is the hellmouth, brute force only works so long as you have the element of surprise. They know who you are now, they know you are coming and they are preparing."
"I'm prepared for them too."
Vin shifted abit in the chair.
Smiling like she had a bad taste in her mouth, Charlotte moved away from her desk. "Hardly."
"Whatever." Vin glanced down at JD. "He might not be ready though."
"He," she replied, "will not be accompaning us tonight."
"Like hell he won't." Vin sat up straight. "If he don't go I don't go."
"He is not ready, Vin, neither are you. He can come at a later date, but first I must make sure you can handle yourself. Once I am sure you can, we will train him to help out as well." Charlotte kneeled down in front of Vin, her hand reaching out and scratching JD behind his ear.
"Reckon you had better get another stool pigeon, this one isn't flying." Vin stood up. "Come on JD."
Her eyes went black, voice scathing. "Sit down!"
"Don't think so." Vin stepped back away from her and tugged on JD's leash.
Grabbing his hand, she forced the magic into him and made him kneel. "Break my hold and the dog can go."
Vin tried to stand, but didn't get no where. So he pushed with all his might, moving upward.
Emphasizing her grip with another burst of power, she sent him back down. "You are nothing but a brute at this point, love. Your strength doesn't work against magic. The mutt stays."
"No." Vin growled and pushed harder.
"Resistance is futile, slayer, power will always out do strength." Tapping his face condescendingly, Charlotte let him go. "You could not break my hold. Do you know why?"
Vin stood glaring at her. "Why?" He growled.
Charlotte sighed. This was going to be harder than she had thought. "Magic is not something one can simply block or wield. You must train to use it, therefore it is logical to assume you must also train to block its effects."
"Whatever."
"I take it your lack of enthusiasm about this stems from a severe lack of magical exposure. Let me demonstrait the true power of magic." Charlotte waved a hand over JD. "Goddess Hecate work thy will, truth behind fur please reveal!" Red light spun around her and shot out from her out stretched hand. The light hit the werewolf, shifting his form until he was a human once more.
Vin frowned at her, his eyes narrowing. "Put him back." Vin crossed his arms over his chest.
"I am making a point. Besides, I belive young Mr. Dunne is quite attractive in his human form." She smiled laciviously at the blushing boy. "If you wish him to come along, undo my spell. It is within your ability as a slayer."
Vin tapped his foot on the floor. "He's my pet."
"Then you fur break him."
"Come on JD." Vin turned and headed out the door.
"Sorry, but you aren't going anywhere until you've learned your lesson." Raising a hand, she summoned JD to her side.
Vin stormed over to her. "Let him go."
"Quit behaving like a child!" Staring at him defiantly, Charlotte gave him a challenging smirk.
"don't say that." Vin stood infront of her, there faces a mere inch apart.
"You seem to be mistaken that this attitude you effect impresses me in the least. I assure you, Vin, I am far from it."
"I don't need to impress no one."
"Not with your speech evidently." Flicking his nose, she leaned forward and tilted her head.
Vin grabbed her hand squeezed. "You can't do your magic without hands can you."
"Wrong, sweet heart." Opening her mouth, a shimmering wave shot out and sent him flying away from her. Charlotte whiped her mouth and patted JD on the head. "I can show you such things, open your mind to the past and let the knowledge of your forebearers flow through."
Vin pulled himself to his feet. He glared her, she would get hers one day and he would make sure it was him that did it.
"Are you just stupid or is there a brain parasite sucking the intelligence right out from between your ears?" Patting her mouth, she yahned.
Vin turned and stormed out of the room.
Petting the boy on the head, she waved a hand and disappated the spell. Scratching the wolf behind the ear, Charlotte knelt down and looked him in the eyes. "That went well." She grabbed him by the chin when he looked after where Vin had left. "When you get home, I want you to tell him what happened with your group. Make sure he understands the damage magic has done, that without its knowledge, he will die. Now go!" Charlotte released JD's muzzel.
JD headed after Vin.
Standing back up, her eyes shifted to from black to brown. With a tight expression, she went about cleaning off the desk.