Agent Fox Mulder (i_want_2) wrote in multi_fiction, @ 2009-01-09 08:26:00 |
|
|||
Entry tags: | angel, au, buffy, het, magnificent 7, rated: adult, slash, weekly promotion challenge, x-over |
Fic: Vin Slayer 6/7 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.
______________________________________
Buck tapped the pen against his chin in thought. "I can't find this symbol anywhere else in the key or the prophicies. Which means we can't even guess what it means by the context in which it is used."
Josiah looked down at the symbol. "It no where else?"
"Didn't I just say that?" Buck gave Josiah a pinch on the arm. "Wake up and pay attention."
Josiah glared at him.
"Don't look at me that way, you had it comin." Buck turned back to the book and flipped through the pages. "After that there is no more mention of either that symbol or the Valtar. It goes on to discribe various threats the great darkness represents, but not what the darkness is."
"SO what ever this thing is, it's giong to end the Valtar threat."
"And about half a dozen others before it is finally stopped. The only problem is," Buck glanced up at him, "we might be one of those threats."
"You can't tell who the threats are?"
"I can't tell anything!"
Josiah sighed. "Keep trying." Josiah turned around. "any of you hear anything?"
"Nope." Inez kept her gaze on the book in her hands. "There isn't anything to hear."
"What do you mean by that?" Josiah crossed his arms.
"You should check your marbles, old man, cause they seem to be rattling extra loud these days."
Josiah sighed, then he headed back toward his office. He was getting a headache and need something for it.
"Uh, Josiah." Buck barely breathed the word.
Josiah turned toward Buck. The look on Buck's face brought back to the half demon's side. "Find something?"
"You could say that. If this means what I think it does, then we have a hell of a lot more to worry about than just deciphering a weird symbol."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ezra was snoring lightly when he felt something brush over his face. Swatting at it, he tried to turn over.
Chris walked out of the kitchen into the livingroom.
"Leave me alone, Mr. Larabee." Ezra swatted at the annoyance again.
"I didn't touch you, you prude" Chris walked by him shaking his head.
"Then what the hell has been brushing my face, slut?"
"Your face? Why would I be brushing against your face? I usually brush something lower." Chris looked him
Finally opening his eyes, he had to blink to regain control and focus them from being asleep. "I distinctly felt something brush across my face. It awakened me from a pleasant repast into this bitter and dreadful existance once more."
"Well. I just came in here." Chris leaned on the doorway. "I was leaving his straightness alone."
"Perhaps I was sensing your chaotic queer vibes and they dashed any hopes of restful slumber." Ezra sat up closing the lazy boy. Stretching, he let out a loud moan. "I honestly do not understand how one can be comfortable in that death trap."
"So what are you going to do now?" Chris shifted and crossed his arms.
"I intend to go to my slumber and rest until I must once again grace this world with my magnificent presence." Standing, Ezra brushed a hand down his untucked dress shirt and scratched himself. "You may sleep on the floor, you mangy mongrel."
Chris snorted. "I'll sleep where I wish." Chris moved and turned to go to the bedroom.
"You will expire if you think to retire with me this night, Mr. Larabee." Ezra moved towards the door and bodily shoved Chris aside.
Chris grabbed him and pulled him close. "You forget I've already expired. Been to hell." Chris looked in the eyes. "Been there done that."
"Then you will simply have to relive that trip as I do not intend for you to get in that bed." Knocking the vampire's arms off his own, Ezra backed away from him. "I am not in the mood tonight. I... am just not in the mood."
Chris watched him. "What is wrong?"
"I honestly don't know." Shivering, he looked over his shoulder. "I don't feel right."
"Can I make you are tucked in safe?" Chris stepped toward him.
Ezra ignored him in favor of a tingling sensation that ran down his spine. Twisting, he felt his limbs suddenly go weak. "Mr. Larabee..." He started to slump to the floor. "Chris!"
Chris moved with lighting like speed and caught him before he hit the floor.
Eyes widening, he watched in horror as something ditatatched itself from the shadows and started towards them. "Behin..." his mouth went numb before he could finish.
Chris looked at Ezra, worried. What the hell was he trying to say, Chris wondered.
Ella smirked as she quickly slammed her knife into Chris' back. Reaching over his shoulder, she back handed Ezra away. "Back off, bitch!"
Chris cried out at the stabbing pain in his chest. He hands moving toward his chest.
Sliding her hand around Chris' chest, she twisted the knife a little with the other. "I told you there would be a price if you ever betrayed me, lover." Jerking out the blade, she used the hilt to smack him across the back of the head. "Rot in hell!" Upon standing, she pulled out a can of lighter fluid from her coat and began spraying down the house. "How about a little fire to heat up this little love nest?"
Chris slumped to the floor and watched her through a daze as Ella sprayed the house until the black of unconsciousness over took him.
Spinning merrily, she emptied the last of the bottle in the bedroom. Walking to the front door, she kicked it open. Ella turned to face the livingroom and sneered. "Say hello to your bitch, Christos." Pulling a match box from her pocket, she struck the match and tossed it on the drapes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shrieks of pain and terror filled the night as Vin hacked another Valtar's wings off. "Hold still and this will be over quickly!" Swinging his second blade he beheaded another as it tried to run away. "No fleeing!"
JD cowarded behind the tree, watching Vin's onslaught of the Valtar.
Moving faster than they could run, Vin cut down two more retreating demons. "Stand an fight, cowards!" Turning back to the main body, his bloody teeth reflected in moon light. "Here kitty kitty kitty."
JD shuddered at the sight. He was frozen to the spot.
Vin surged forward into the fray, his flashing red as they sliced and ripped through the mass nesting. Entire family groups were cut down in a single stroke of his blade. Adults and young alike fell to pieces so fast their parts were still twitching. Vin laughed triumphantly as one tried to fight him. "Think you can beat me?"
The valtar moved to take Vin on, attacking the slayer.
Spinning to avoid the rushing demon, he lashed out with his swords and pierced the demon twice, once through the chest and once through the neck. He slid them together and then apart causing the body to fall in two halves to the ground. Jumping in the air, he slung the blades below him and beheaded a demon that had been sneaking up behind him. Another Valtar was crushed under his boots as he crashed down. Checking under his heels, he smiled at the demon beneath him.
The pinned demon begged. "I won't try to hurt you again. I'll leave here." The demon voice tembled in fear.
Vin's face contorted in fury and he slammed the blade down into the demon's chest. Picking the barely alive demon up with his blade, he tossed it over his shoulder and went back to hacking at the Valtar.
The demon fell infront of JD who yipped in terror. He shook in fear as tears ran down his face mixing into his fur.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Josiah gave his glasses another troubled polish.
"Are you sure that this is correct?"
"I am." Buck told him as he looked up at the watcher.
"Then we will have to inform the council of this immeadietly. We cannot allow this to happen and I refuse to allow that damned Vampire the satisfaction of killing another slayer!" Putting on his glasses, he stood up to go back into his office.
"What will the council do," Casey asked
Josiah rubbed at his forehead. "I'm not exactly sure. We've never had a rogue slayer before, however I am sure there is a team for just such an occaision."
"Will they kill him?" Casey looked at Josiah.
"It is a distinct possibility given the factors of his strength, speed, and unusual knowledge." Josiah took a deep breath which was clearly heard in the stunned silence. "Well it's not like I am the one who is pulling the trigger. He has to be stopped before he gets out of hand. None of you know the true destructive capabilities of an amoral slayer."
The door brusted open and JD ran in, crying. He gasped for air.
Buck rose to his feet and was at the werewolf's side in an instant. Helping the boy to remain standing, he guided him to the table. "JD, what the hell happened to you?"
"Vin,...his fighting...some demons." JD took a deep breath. "He's slaughtering them."
"That is his job, kid. If ya can't handle that, then why are you patroling with him?" Buck sat JD in his vacated chair and gestured for a glass of water from Inez.
"Not like this." JD managed.
"What do you mean, 'not like this'?" Josiah moved to stand in front of the young were. "What has gotten you so upset?"
"He's killing all of htem. Even if they are not fighting them." JD looked up at Josiah.
"Who are them?"
"Valtar."
Josiah froze. It couldn't be. "Are you absolutely sure these were Valtar? The Valtar are an extremely violent and proud race, they would fight to the death."
"They are dying."
"That is not what I meant. The Valtar would not just stand by, they would fight an enemy."
"They are." JD shuddered thinking about it.
"They are what," Josiah screamed.
"Fighting and dying. He's taring through them like they were paper." JD took the glass from Inez. He's hands shook so hard that hte water started to spill.
"That's not possible, they are one of the most powerful demon forces in existance. The thought of fighting them is sheer madness, to take them on alone is..." Josiah trailed off as he ran to his office.
JD looked at Buck, questioningly.
Buck shook his head in sorrow. "I'm sorry, kid." Placing a comforting hand on JD's back, he looked away. "That big evil, it aint one of them, its Vin."
"NO!" JD pulled away from Buck's hand and came out of his chair.
"Listen to him, JD." Casey wheeled her chair up to his side. "Vin is out of control, he is hurting people again. How long before he goes back to killing people like us just for protecting ourselves?"
"He's not evil, just lost." JD told her.
"I'm afraid it is a bit more than that," Josiah appeared at his doorway holding a book in his hand. "And if we don't do something about it soon, we could all be dead before he is finally stopped."
"He don't know who he is. He's lost in the girls' memories and can't find who is." JD looked for Josiah to understand.
"He doesn't care anymore, JD, the madness has overridden his sense of self preservation and he is close to burn out." Holding out the book, he dropped it on the table. "Charlotte left this on my desk when she was here earlier. It is an ancient tome that deals with the dark arts which were used to create the slayer. He has mentioned that she has been teaching him to focus his slayer abilities through magic. If it is as I suspect, he has gone too far, too fast and will reach critical mass very soon."
"No, he don't know who he is. He don't know who Vin Tanner is!" JD yelled at Josiah.
"He is lost, yes, and at this point he doesn't care anymore. It is no longer just about his memories, the reason he wants to fight someone stronger than him is because he wants to lose." Josiah's voice was very feight as he spoke. "He wants to die."
"He won't." JD said softly.
"He will," Inez spoke up for the first time. "Buck said that this big bad that destroies the Valtar is killed by Chris and in so doing releases the Master."
JD shook his head. "No."
"JD's right. We will find a way to stop him before that happens." Casey grabbed her boyfriend's hand to comfort him. "Vin is our friend and we can't let him commit suicide because he got addicted to magic. Right?" She looked at Josiah poinetedly.
JD looked around the room for more support.
Josiah remained silent but nodded his assent.
"How?" Buck asked simply.
No one answered him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ezra awoke sucking poisoned air into his lungs and began wheezing. Eyes going wide and water from the smoke, he rolled over and shook from coughs. His hand shot out to find something to cover himself with. The questing hand came across the bloody back of Chris and Ezra mentally cursed. "Hang on you thrice damned blood sucker!" Sitting up, he grabbed Chris' shirt and pulled him into his lap.
Looking around for clearance, he saw the entire house was ablaze around them. "Rules be damned, that blonde whore shall rue the day she turned my home into a bon fire!" See the floor between them and the front door was relatively untouched, he began crawling towards it, dragging Chris behind him. "It is time you went on a bloody diet, Mr. Larabee, your weight has grown to unacceptable levels."
He made slow progress towards the door. Several times he had to stop and cover his face with his bloody shirt in order to take a clear breath. Finally he crossed the short distance of the livingroom to the front door. With one last heave, he jerked Chris over the threshold by his belt. They fell back over on to the flagstones of the front walk, Chris on top. Glaring, Ezra smacked the vampire across the face. "Wake up!"
Chris shook his head as he woke, seeing Ezra he sunk is teeth into the soft flesh of Ezra's neck.
"Gah!" Ezra cried out in pain while he beat at the vampire's back. "Unhand me, you brute!"
Chris continued to suck as he needed more blood.
The edges of Ezra's vision phased and flared. Blinking, he cleared it only to have the spots reappear. "Oh damn."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sitting on his throne, the Master felt a jolt of pure satisfaction flow through his system. The taste of fresh blood filled his senses and his mouth grew moist at the phantom taste. "What is this?"
"What is what?" Asked a nameless demon.
"Power, I am feeling my being infused with power!" Standing up, he started for the barrier, hand out. "So much power I can.... Wait, I lost it, it's gone."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ezra gave a bark of gasping laughter as Chris writhed away from his body. "And don't you forget it!" Holding up the cross, he glared at the vampire.
Chris moved back away from Ezra confused.
Ezra gave the vampire a wide birth as he sat up holding his neck. "Now you are going to keep to your side of the lawn and I mine. We are going to await the arrival of the police and we are going to tell them a psychotic loon has attacked us. Got it?"
"What the hell you talking about Ezra?"
"Your sire, that bitch has burned down my house!"
Chris tilted his head in confusion.
"Look!" Ezra gestured wildly at the burning home. "My house! That bitch has burned my house! It's gone, caput, soot, no more!"
Chris looked at the buring house and fell down on his butt.
"Finally, struck as dumb as you look." Kicking up dirt at the vampire, Ezra turned on his heel and stormed away.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Charlotte ran her hair brush through her hair one last time then set it down on the vanity. Smiling to herself, she stood up and turned to face the bed. The sight of her doorway made her yelp in surprise. After catching her breath, she backed away a step. "Vin?"
Vin entered her room with nothing on. He walked up to her, his eyes dark from the power.
A smile crossing her features, Charlotte's hands went to the lacing on her neglige and untied them. The lacey material fell to her ankles and she stepped out of them towards Vin.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The answering machine in Josiah's apartment shrieked as it came on. "Hello, you've reached Josie's place, this is the stupid answering machine, leave a message after the tone or don't. Vin, I told you to leave my machine alone, it doesn't..." Another loud screech.
"Josiah! Please answer us as soon as possible, we've made a grave mistake and I fear we are most likely too late. Call the council immeadietly after you recieve this message. I only pray we are on time to stop Mrs. Richmond before it is too late."
END SCENE
Here We Go
Vin cocked his head to the side as he studied the nude woman in front of him. He felt her power rising and it wasn't pleasant. Ignoring the tingling across his skin, he stepped forward. An excitement built in him that matched the beating of his heart. Finally, he would get what she had been teasing him with since their first night.
Charlotte reached up caressing his cheek. She felt her power being drained by Vin. Charlotte used both hands to push him way from her.
Vin frowned at her actions. Stepping forward, he tried to reach out and hold her.
"Get away you fucking freak." Charlotte told him as she backed up further. "Get out of here."
Pausing, Vin's black eyes went wide with shock. "Charlotte?" Surely she didn't mean that.
"Go!" Charlotte pointed toward the door.
"Why? What did I do?" He slowly advanced towards her, face frowning, not understanding. "Don't you want me?"
"You...something is different." Charlotte moved away from him.
"There is nothing different. I am me." Reaching out again, he grabbed her hand. "What is your problem?"
"Let me go!" Charlotte demanded as she waved her hand to cast a spell.She spoke the chant and cast the spell to throw Vin away from her.
Vin stumbled backwards gripping his midsection from the pain. When he looked up again, his face hardened into a mask of pure hatred. "You are just like the rest of them."
"Get the hell out of here." Charlotte demanded as she prepared another spell. She couldn't let him take her power, she knew that.
Vin waved a hand and the ball of energy in her hand flashed out of existance. "Hell is exactly where I intend for you to go, bitch!" He shot out and slammed her against the wall behind her.
Charlotte cried out in pain, trying to fight him off. She casted a spell of protection.
When he drew back a fist to hit her, he impacted against a shield. Growling, he snarled at her. "You think this can stop me?" He pulled back both fists over his head. Slamming them down, he pounded at her magic. The energy wave rippled under his assault and he repeated the move. After a third pounding, Vin broke through. His hand immeadietly reached through the damaged shield and grabbed her about the throat. "Your precious face is the only thing they will find of you left intact."
Charlotte tried to pry his hand from her throat as kicked out trying to get him to let lose.
Vin grabbed her foot mid kick. Letting go of her neck, he yanked her legs out from under her by her ankle. He picked her up by the leg and slammed her against the wall. Shrieking in rage, he swung her behind him into the bureau then back in to the wall. Seeing her blood on the walls sent him over the edge. Screaming, he swung her repeatedly in to the walls about the room leaving blood and gore on every visible surface.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Black eyes shot open, unseeing and glassy. A scream erupted from the sitting figure as she shot up to her feet. Clutching at her head, Druscilla shrieked. Darkness every where she looked made filling her mind and taking away all thought. Rushing forward, her hands reaching out blindly, she tried to grasp anything to anker her down. Her terror and shrieks increased in volume and pitch until something slammed in to her face. Blinking, she focused blearily on something standing above her. When her vision was clear, she whispered. "I was having a night mare." Her lips twisted into a grimace. "It was beautiful."
"My dear Drusilla. You have awakened." The Master purred his pleasure.
"She was screaming, doesn't understand, shhhhhh, no need to fear anymore." Touching her index finger to her lips, she dipped her head from side to side. "It is coming. Grand ma best watch out, the big bad wolf is in the red cloak."
"I do not understand." The Master told her confused by her words.
Climbing to her feet, she spun aroud in a circle and clapped her hands to a silent rhythm. "One by one, we all fall down. And there isn't anything you can do about it." She taunted the Master, trailing her fingers around his collar with each turn about him. "Don't worry, my sweet," she whispered in his ear, "your beautiful flame will turn to so much ashes on the wind. But take heart, she didn't betray you, you just can't see the threads of fate flitting through, binding us all about like cobwebs covered in dew."
The master watched her only growing more confused by the second. Though he had a feeling that something bad was going to happen.
"Now you're getting it, poppet." Twinking his nose, she stalked away cheerily humming a made up song about dismembering people just to hear their screams.
The master watched her go and wondered what was going to happen. He wished she told things the way they were and not in rymes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
JD slammed the glass down after emptining again, gasping for breath. He stared up through teary eyes at Josiah. "What do we do about Vin? He is going to hurt somebody sooner or later and then there will be no hope for him."
"I don't rightly know, JD. I don't know if there is anything we can do." Josiah patted his back.
"Don't patronize me!" Slapping the Watcher's hand away, JD stood up. "There has got to be something we can do. Granted, none of us is Superman or Xena, but there has got to be a way to stop a psyched out slayer on the war path! I mean Vin couldn't have been the first slayer to lose his battle with the dark side."
"John," Josiah said quietly. He used the young werewolf's real name to get his full attention. "If they went psychotic, they were killed." Josiah found that he hated saying that. Hated to think that they would lose Vin this way.
"What," Casey asked, blinking in confusion. "That can't be. Why would they kill their own slayers?"
"They can't afford them turning on them." Josiah said looking at Casey.
"That makes sense. Don't need a normal nut case runnin around, a super freak would be definite bad news." Than ignored the disgusted look JD sent his way. "Vin definitely fits the bill on that one."
"If we only knew how Vin came by the power of the slayer, then we might know if there was some hope for him."
"It matters little where he got the abilities. What we must focus on is getting him under control so he can stand trial for his actions." Orrin Travis walked in to the library followed by twelve other people all sporting various weapons. "Josiah, did you not get my message?"
"I did not." Josiah turned to face Travis. This was all he needed more trouble. "Why are you here?"
"I see. Mrs. Richmond, where is she?" He nodded to the people behind him and they began fanning out, setting up various breifcases and laptops.
"At home as far as I know." Josiah told him as he walked up to Travis. "Why might I ask?"
"Send to of your people, make sure they are strong, to guide mine to her. She is to be brought here to face charges of conspiracy with the dark arts." Pointing at three people, he waved them forward. "I want you to go with his men and bring that tramp back here. If she resists, break her neck."
Josiah nodded. And it took that long to figure it out. Josiah thought. Not at all surprised with Travis' announcement. "Let's go."
"No, Josiah, you will stay. I said pick two of your people, now do so!" Moving up close to the other man, Travis grabbed him by the elbow. "Charlotte has betrayed her oath as a Watcher. She is conspiring with our enemies to gain control of the slayer and the Hellmouth. I fear what might happen if she were to discover the true nature of the slayer's abilities. The results could be disasterous. Now pick two of your men and send them a head to bring her in. You have other more important matters to attend!"
Josiah turned. "Than and Buck, you go with these men and get Charlotte."
"As you wish, oh mighty Watcher. Come on, Than, we'd better get before one of these stiff brits breaks in half from all the anal straining." Buck picked up a dagger from a pile one of the Watchers was lying out and stormed out of the library, Than in tow.
Josiah shot Buck a glare at his comment. "What else would you like to speak to me about?" Josiah asked as he turned back to Travis and company.
"What is the current status of the slayer? You seemed to be preoccupied with his behaviour when we came in." Travis took a seat at the head of the library table.
Josiah looked at Travis and took a deep breath. "He's becoming hard to handle. I believe that the memories of past slayers are influencing with his life."
Travis took a deep breath through his nose, his lips tightening in a scowl. "Then we have a problem, do we not."
"You have come for him too then." Josiah glanced toward JD knowing the boy wouldn't take what was about to be said well.
"Yes." Travis looked about to continue, but the doors opened. "What are you doing here?"
"I have brought a summons to attend a meeting at Mr. Standish request." Chris decided that he wouldn't say that his royal straightness was being a pain in the ass. Chris leaned on the door frame watching them.
"Mr. Standish.... You mean that lawyer is demanding our presence?" Travis stood up in anger sending the chair he had been in flying back against the book shelf behind him. "I will personally attend to this meeting and then I will attend to Mr. Standish. Come along, Josiah, I'm not through with you yet."
Chris didn't move from where he was lounging at Travis' outburst. He stood when Travis and Josiah headed his way.
Travis' hand shot out and sent Chris flying out of his way. "Move, leech!"
Chris turned into his vampire from and growled, but didn't challenge the old man.
"A wise move," Travis walked out passed him not looking back.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Buck checked the door of the apartment, the handle jiggling under his touch. "I have only been here once, and that was because Josiah forced me to. She is one freaky chick, has a way of looking at you and making you feel like the cheapest thing in a butcher's shop."
"Open it." Than said.
"Do I look like your damn butler, boy? Open it yourself!" Stepping back, Buck gestured at the door. "Ladies first."
Than shot him a glare, then pushed the door open.
The tallest of the Watchers shoved past Buck and Than, an energy ball in his hand waiting. "Get out of the way!" Barging into the house, he took one look at the normal living room and moved on.
Than glared at the man, then followed him in. He looked at Buck. "I don't know why we had to come."
"We needed someone to test for magical barriers. If you got fried, we found another way in." Smiling, the second Watcher came up behind them and shoved them into the house.
"Bastards." Than muttered as he moved forward.
"Actually, I know my father, he married my mum, can you say the same?" The third Watcher elbowed Than and his fellow while wagging his bushy eyebrows. After his comment, he barely had time to dodge the first Watcher as he came barreling through the room. "Watch it, ya blighter! What's gotten in to him all of sudden?"
"Wouldn't know he's your buddy?" Than stated and walked forward.
Buck put a hand across Than's chest. "Hold up. Whatever is in there isn't nothing we wanna see. Just a feelin."
Than looked at Buck. "you having warm and fuzzy feelings now."
"Yeah, and right now I aint expecting a carebear to come crawling out of there." Buck shivered. "That is unless it is dressed in a leather outfit, shaved and is covered in pins."
"Huh?" Than looked from Buck to the doorway.
"What's the matter, haven't ya ever seen Hellraiser? You yanks, I swear sometimes." Giving the two men a slight shove out of his way, the third Watcher moved down the hall towards the from which the first had exited through. He was trailed by the other three men and made a grand show of stalking through the hall silently. At the doorway, he paused and held up a finger to his lips. Tossing it open, he stepped into the room about to yell surprise and froze.
"Reckon I don't need to see what ever is in there." Than told Buck as they stood there.
"What is it, Jacky? That bitch got a sacrifice made up of our slayer pal?" Moving his stunned friend out of the way, the second Watcher stepped into the bedroom. Looking around him, he wiped at his eyes then backed out slowly. "It can't be."
"What is it?" Than asked as he stepped forward.
"If you are so curious to see hell, boy, go in and find out." The Watcher grabbed Jack and hauled him from the doorway.
Than looked at Buck. "It can't be worse than what happened to my gang."
Curiosity winning out, Buck stepped into the room and immeadietly wished he hadn't. Everything he could see, from the cieling to the floor was covered in dark red congealing into brown. At first he couldn't understand what he was seeing, and a faint tingling at the back of his sense memory told him it smelled like pennies. His face shifted to his demonic side as he stepped further in the room. Most of the walls had crumbled from the force and the drywall was covered in the pulpy remains of what had been living tissue. "Good god almighty. What the hell happened here?"
Than stepped in behind him. He absently wondered if this was worse than when Vin killed his gang. Than swallowed. "I think it's what is left of Charlotte."
"Well I know that, you stupid shit!" Buck glared at Than then looked away. "Sorry, I'm just a little unnerved by all this stuff. I would imagine Josiah could handle himself better where he here. He seems to know just what to do."
"He's been at this a hell of alot longer then us." Than told the newest watcher.
"God I hope I never get to the point where I can function in the face of... this." Waving his arms at the red room, tremors causing them to shake. "I need to get out of here. We have to tell Josiah."
"I agree 100% with you on this." Than headed out of the room.
"Let's go." Moving away, Buck rushed past the Watchers and out of the house. When they got to thinking again, he didn't want them to question where the demon guy with the spikey face had come from.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ella was walking toward city limits she knew she would have to get out of town. She had broke the rules, but the master would be freed and that is what mattered. Ella sighed. It wasn't a lose anyway, it was time to move on anyway.
Trash cans shot out in the street towards the vampire.
Ella dodged them and looked around to see what had throw them toward her.
"Ring around the rosies," Vin was suddenly standing in front of her holding a handful of rose cains. He slammed them across her face then disappeared again.
"Damn slayer." Ella cursed as she put her hand to her face where it hurt from the thorns. Her eye scanned her surroundings looking for her now prey.
Flower petals showered down from above all around Ella as he stopped behind her. "A pocket full of posies." Vin slammed his hand into her chest through her spine and clenched her heart. "Ashes, ashes, we all fall down."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ezra watched as Josiah and Travis followed Chris into the University Library. "Evening, gentlemen and fellow demonic life forms." Sitting down in his chair at the head of the table, he smiled and held out a hand. "Please, take a seat."
Chris leaned against the wall watching his lover. He wondered how long before they would get it on. Chris licked his lips at the idea of his tasty treat.
Ezra untucked a cross from around his neck. Scooting up closer to the table, he folded his hands over the edge. "I am sorry if I made it sound like a request. Take a seat, all of you, now."
Chris shrugged and sat down with the others.
D'Hoffryn scowled at the leatcher clad Scourage represenative as he sat down beside the smelly demon. "What is the meaning of this summons, Lawyer?"
"I would like to know that too." Travis put in. "I have other matters to take care of."
"It is quite simple, you have a traitor in your mists and I am here to help flush it out." Leaning forward, he focused on the vampire representing the Master. "Your second in command, Ella Gaines, she is to be brought to me alive else there will be hell to pay."
"She is no longer with us." The vampire replied.
"Then you leave me no other alternative." Reaching into his suit jacket, Ezra pulled out a cellphone. "One call and I will have your entire community exterminated by the best demon cleansing agency money can buy."
"That would be bring in an outside force to change the balance of the hellmouth you can't do that." The vampire replied, watching Ezra.
"The balance has already been altered. Ms. Gaines attacked a senior official who is presiding over this little war of yours and thus negated her protection provided by the treaty by involving an outside sorce. Your refusal to assit is proof in your compliance with her actions. Under these articals, the contract is considered void and your people forfeit their claim for protection. Meaning I can do as I damn well please and nothing anyone says or does can stop me. Now I ask you again, hand over Ms. Gaines or else." By the time he finished, Ezra was standing and nearly spitting from his rage.
"I wish we could hand her over as she has cause us trouble too, but she walked away from the master the night the Annointed One was killed. She has not returned and if she was to her life would be forfiet."
"That is just too bad. Until I have her as proof, I am inclined to believe she was acting under direct orders from the Master..." Suddenly the doors to the library burst open distracting Ezra. He stared at the large group of watchers and Scoobies and glared. "What is the meaning of this?"
"Something happened at Charlotte's house. She was smeared all over the walls of her bedroom. Blood and gore everywhere. There is a hole where her window was. Vin is missing." JD spit out.
"Dear god," Josiah touched his chest, reaching for a cross that was no longer there. "Is there any sign that it could have been Vin, not charlotte killed?"
"There was clumps of her hair on the walls in places." Than said as he shifted his stance.
"Are you sure it was hers?" Josiah took in the sick palour of the assembled watchers and scoobies, then shook his head. "I'll take your word for it. Is there anything you can tell us what you think could have happened?"
"My name is Peter and I was the first in the bedroom where this was at. It could been a spell gone awry, though I can't say that was. I have no idea of what happened."
"What if it was Vin?" Casey ignored JD's stricken look and rolled her chair up to the table. "What if it was the slayer? I have an idea, well not so much an idea, as a theory from what they told us when they came back to the library."
"Which is?" Travis asked turning his attention to the girl.
"Okay, first off, I am the one Josiah always has researching the victims' remains and the crimescene for lack of a better word. I can tell pretty much right off the bat what killed who, where, and how. Does that make sense?" She began making gestures with her hands as she spoke, distracting the Vampires from the words by her actions. "Some demons prefer to shred their victims which leaves blood sprays across the room, while others prefer to strangle them and eat them whole. Vampires are the least messy, usually, they just bite, suck and then drop. Which is still kinda messy, I mean you gotta body there and when a person dies they tend to soil themselves, which is way, way gross..."
"Get on with it." Travis said irritated. Travis stood and stepped up to her.
Sticking her chin out, Casey was not intimidated by the Watcher in the least. However, the look JD was giving her was unnerving her a little. But she continued on. "Like I was saying, there is a definite pattern to the blood spray and the damage. From what I remember of with all the crime scenes I have heard about and seen, the conclusion is clear. Someone, an extremely strong someone, beat her to death on the walls. Probably swung her about like a rag doll until all that was left of her was what was in his hand. It speaks of someone who has lost all control, both emotionally and mentally, and Vin fits that discription. Sorry, JD, but Vin could have very well done this."
JD violently shook his head. "No, no, no, no!"
Travis faced Josiah, then looked at Ezra. "Is there anything you need, you little shit, or are we free to hunt down this abomination you brought us?"
Chris looked around as things down, he watched the world go grey. He stood looking for the source of the spell.
D'Hoffryn raised a hand from his seat at the table, waving for Chris' attention. "Over here, vampire."
Chris waltzed over to him. "What do you want?"
"Usually, I do not interact with vermine such as yourself, however this is a special case and you the man of the hour." Leaning back in his chair, D'Hoffryn flipped a hand in the air in a grand gesture of flippance.
"Cut to the chase." Chris was getting annoyed with the demon.
"They are going to kill the slayer, the usual knight in shining armor who always killed the bad guys and saved the people in distress. Of course they will try and fail." Tilting his head to the side, he put a hand to his mouth which suddenly held a cigar. "There is really only one person who can stop the big bad slayer and that is you."
"And why should I?" Chris crossed his arms.
The demon waved off his question. "Have you ever wondered why you are still undead? You've had so many runins with this new slayer and not once has he ever quite succeeded in killing you."
"That's because he can't." Chris watched the demon,wonding what he was getting at.
"Wrong." Sitting up, he patted Chris' knee condescendingly. "That's okay, you are a vampire, you believe you are the strongest. The real reason is Vin cannot because he is conflicted."
"Conflicted how?" Chris narrowed his eyes on the demon.
"Inside Vin are the memories of every previous slayer but his own. That includes your Sarah. With this being the Hellmouth and him being around her friends and Watcher, it is no wonder he is unable to seperate himself from her. She lives in him. That is why you must kill him."
"You are saying I must kill the slayer and he has Sarah's memories." Chris watched the demon's face and wondered if he should just rip his throat out and have done with this.
"Exactly." Smiling, he took another puff of the cigar, the smell of sulfer coming from the burning end.
"What if I tell you I won't kill him." Chris shifted his stance.
Lifting a white eyebrow, D'Hoffryn's face took on a semblance of tolerantly amused. "And why would you refuses?"
"Why would I want to kill a slayer that has Sarah's memories?"
"Because he is not Sarah. Each moment he is out there with her memories he becomes useless and more dangerous." Sitting forward, he held up both his hands level. "On the one side you have a slayer who has the combined knowledge of the entire lineage of the species, a great asset to any side. But on the other, you have a being who's own mental state has been lost in the search for self identity. If one is to assimilate knowledge, one's mind must be strong enough to accept the responcibilities and the understanding of new realities that comes with it. Ordinarily a slayer's mind is one of the strongest in existance, their will is more than enough to handle the discoveries of being different and the memories of past slayers. There is on occaision a precious few who are not, shall we say, quite all there. Vin's mind was stripped of his self identity, thus he is lost, perhaps permanently. An insane slayer is a most dangerous creature." Taking another puff, he blew out the smoke in Chris' face. "Would you have that be your lover's legacy?"
Chris waved the smoke away. "how do you know that he was stripped of his self identity."
"Because I have been watching, blood sucker, I know more than you think." Standing up, he met Chris eye to eye. "Whatever your personal feelings may be, forget them. That child is out there suffering, he is in pain and wishes it to end. I am doing the only thing I can and so shall you. Do not make him wait anymore, help him find a form of peace. For once in your pitiful existance, show some mercy." A black flame engulfed him, disappearing a moment more taking him along with it.
"What the hell did he mean?" The vampire muttered as things started to move again.
Ezra raised his eyebrows. "I merely delivered what was promised. If you have a disagreement about the packaging, perhaps you should take it up with our home office." Standing, he adjusted his coat. "Ladies and Gentlemen, you are free to go. Mr. Larabee, a word, if I may."
Chris nodded and walked up to Ezra
Travis sent them a meaning filled glare, but turned to his people. "Get back to the library and set up the locator spell. I want that bastard found and hung by the end of the night. Get the dart guns ready and tripple the dosage, he may be stronger than we thought. Groups of four when hunting him, I want no one alone."
Chris watched Travis. "So they decided to kill him."
"It was an enevitibility, Mr. Larabee. A slayer's existance is savage and unforgivingly short." Speaking in a bitter tone, Ezra grabbed Chris' face and made the vampire look him in the eye. "You will follow them, but no interfer. If you get your chance, take it. Stay alive, you're continued existance and mine are eternally linked I fear."
"You want me to kill the slayer?"
"You shall do whatever it takes to assure our exhodus from this hick town. If killing that slayer is the trick, then eat one for the home team." Ezra slipped a hand down Chris chest, stopping at his belt. "When that is accomplished, I am yours to do with as you see fit."
"You think they are going to let us leave here?" Chris smirked at the thought of what he would do with Ezra on his return.
"With the death of the slayer, the Master shall rise. The Scourge are fighting a war of ethnic cleansing in L.A., Vengence Demons only enjoy chaos when they are the cause, not the victims, and the Watcher's Council is defeated with the death of their slayer. Sure, there will be another slayer, they will probably send her here, but WolfRam and Hart's interest in this matter will be settled." Patting Chris' pants, Ezra leaned in and kissed the vampire on the neck. "Go and hurry back."
Chris groaned. He ran a hand over Ezra's chest.
Backing away with a teasing smirk, Ezra shook his finger. "Not until you are through."
Chris rolled his eyes. He headed for the door. His insides twisted as he went it seemed that everyone wanted him to kill the slayer. Why couldn't they understand that he didn't want to.
Josiah gathered the near catatonic JD in his arms. It worried him that the boy had grown so attached to Vin, but there was nothign he could do. He quietly followed his fellow Watchers from the campus library, making sure that Inez, Than, Buck and Casey were close behind. "Buck, I want you Than and Inez to escourt Casey home, it is dangerous out there with Vin on the prowl. I have to head back to the library and see if I can at least reason with Travis. I am taking JD with me as Vin might come for him soon."
"Got you, Josiah." Than said as he moved to do as he was told.
Ezra watched the last of them leave, knowing the vampire that represented the Master would never make it off the campus undead. He had paid that bitch Mary a lot of money to insure that was one dead demon. The same hit was taken out on any vampire aside from Chris spotted in or around SunnyDale. Mary had her ways and with that video of him and Chris, he had sealed the deal. He made a mental note to have Mary eliminated after she had served her purpose. Not that she would use the video against him, she was just fucking annoying.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~