Story: The Chosen (all chapters)

Authors: darkwoofe

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Chapter 1

[Author's notes: Rewrite of Buffy season one. This was one of the first stories I've written. It's also one of my favorites.
]

Title: The Chosen

Disclaimer: Buffy the Vampire Slayer belongs to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. I make no claims, or money from this fic. It was written purely for fun. It contains violence, and will contain scenes of a sexual nature including same sex pairings.

Rating: Lets call it R just to be on the safe side. Don’t worry, it will be.

Notes: Some of the events will be out of place, and some won’t be at all. After all this is a work of fiction.

Spoilers: Any thing and every thing! Nothing is sacred.

Archive: Please, help yourself. But I’d really like to know where they go up.

Contact: Please feel free to review me and let me know what you think.

Summery: Her parent having died in a fire when she was a child, Buffy grows up thinking Richard Wilkins is her uncle. The council finds out that the mayor knows of slayer and the council and decides to kill the slayer to prevent her being used against them.

The Chosen

By darkwoofe

The skies glowed orange in the night occasionally cut with flashes of blue and red. People stood around looking at the house, shaking their heads at the horror of such a thing happening, especially to newlyweds. The firemen valiantly fought the fire, and at the very least had it under control. But it was too late. As the neighbors had pointed out, with both cars in the driveway, it was almost assured that Mr. and Mrs. Hank and Joyce Summers had both been home. To make matters worse the newlyweds had just had their first child.

With the fire as bad as it was the firemen didn’t want to risk unnecessary lives searching the burning house for survivors when it was obvious to anyone looking that there was no way anyone could have survived the raging inferno.

Suddenly over the sounds of the sirens and the roar of the fire, a piercing shriek came for the burning home. Without hesitation or the proper suit, fireman Lt Barker moved from his position as the second man on one of the hoses. He briefly ran in front of the hose he had been helping hold until he was soaked, then ran to the house. He opened the front door only to be met by impassable flames. He turned from the door and raced to one of the front windows. He pause for a second, then covered his face and jumped though. His coworkers quickly moved a hose to the window fighting the fire with all they had, not willing to let its rage claim their friend. Just as the crowd started to lose hope, the sound came again, this much loud and closer. A shape flew though the window, tucked and rolled.

Lt Barker burned and exhausted uncurled from shielding the baby from the heat with his body. Any doubt as to the safety of the child disappeared with a piercing cry as the baby let the world know what she thought of the treatment she had just received.

After being checked at the emergency room of a local hospital little Elizabeth Ann Summers was taken into the system until next of kin could be found. She spent less than a week there before a family member from a local town came forward to claim the child.

Mayor Richard Wilkins the third smiled as he read the latest report from LA. Everything was working out well, even if it hadn’t gone as he had planned. His quick thinking, the law firm’s connections were making things come out in a way he found useful. After thirty years of research he had discovered and gained possession of a slayer with only these latest slips in his plans. Usually it was impossible to find a slayer before they reached puberty by which time the council would already have their hooks into them.

He chuckled quietly to himself. But not this time he thought No sir-ry. I beat them this time. He had no idea how the Council found potential slayers, but he knew that they couldn’t find them until around the ages of 11 or 12 years. So he had contacted the law firm of Wolfram and Hart in hopes they could help him with his little problem. With their direct link to Hell, it had taken them only a few months to predict the next slayer. Not only did they find him a slayer, but the found him a slayer with more potential than any slayer born before her.

The report said that the foraged documents naming him the older brother of Joyce Summers were complete and he had contacted her earlier this week. With the money he had built up over the years the fees the law firm was charging him for this service was insignificant. But even if it had taken all his money, it would have been worth it.

The prophecies and predictions all agreed on one thing. That if he was to achieve his goal and complete his Ascension he would need the unconditional love and loyalty of a Chosen One. To think that when he had first come upon that passage many years ago, he hadn’t even know what the Chosen One was.

Years of research had given him the knowledge of what he sought, and more years of research had finally given him a way to detect these creatures, these Slayers. He had laughed when he had first seen one, until he watched what looked like nothing more than a young girl bravely face down a seven foot tall Targis demon intent on destroying all of New York. The demon much stronger faster and more skilled then the girl looked sure to win, and soon had the girl pinned on the tracks in one of the many subways of the city. As it was about the deliver the deathblow Wilkins had been awed as he watched the Slayer, this girl he had been laughing at, calmly reach out and grab hold of the demon as her other had grabbed and held onto the third rail of the track killing both herself and the demon. His research told him that this child had only just been Called as Slayer. In the sacrifice of a fifteen-year old child he saw why a Slayer would best serve on his side.

Over the years he had found six other Slayers, but each time the Council had beaten him to them. He had even approached two of them, but after the Watcher’s Council had had their hands on them, even briefly he had found that there was no hope of gaining their allegiance. After the first two failures he had turned his study to the interaction between Slayers and Council. What he found appalled him. These girls were kept ignorant, beaten, and forced to do whatever these so called Watchers demanded of them. With the brainwashing that was called training, they had few thoughts that were their own. His heart went out to these children who were treated as nothing more than slaves. That was when he began his project with Wolfram and Hart.

Money changed hands, deals were made and finally after all his waiting he was getting what he had paid for. Foreknowledge of a child who would without a doubt become a Slayer. And for a little extra, the papers needed to make her a part of his family.

Still, he thought to himself, I think that fire was just a little too convenient. His plans had been to claim to be the long lost brother of Joyce Summers, offer Hank a job in Sunnydale and pretty much spoil young Elizabeth Ann as her adoring rich uncle. After all, he hadn’t wanted to separate a baby form its parents. Not too soon anyway. He knew that it was likely one of his rivals had hired someone from the law firm to try and kill the baby. But in the end this would most likely workout for the best. Boy I’m glad I put that protection spell on her.

As for the law firm, he would make sure that if one of them did start that fire that they would learn not to play around with his plans. After all, it won’t be long before I rule this world. Or the country at the very least.

He pick up the phone and told Ryan Finch to have his car and driver waiting for him out front. He was going to LA. Before hanging up, he remembered to ask the man about his son Allen who was in collage. Have to remember my manner after all.

Buffy ran into the Mayor’s office excitedly ignore his secretary trying to tell her that he was in a meeting. “Uncle Rich!” she said, eyes wide and slightly out of breath. “I beat Master Ken at practice today!” the twelve year old said excited jumping into her uncle’s lap.

“Well that’s great sugar!” he said ignoring the put upon expression on the man in front on his desk.

You would never know that the ordinary looking man was a demon with the power to kill them both in an instant. “I think we have an understanding, Mayor. I’ll arrange for a companion of mine to bring you the books. Good day.”

Wilkins sighed. “Now I’m happy you beat Master Ken, honey but you shouldn’t interrupt my meetings. Now run and do you homework, and I’ll take you to play mini golf.” Buffy gave him a quick hug and ran off to do her homework, never seeing the mayor rub his now sore ribs. My little princess is coming along nicely he thought.

He picked up his phone and pressed a button. “Grace? You can send in my three thirty appointment now.” He told his secretary. The man who entered all but confirmed Wilkins’ suspicions.

“Mayor Wilkins.” He said with a distinctly British accent. “My name is Philip Cole. I represent an institution that has taken notice of your niece’s many talents. With exceptional children like young Elizabeth Ann we take it upon ourselves to offer them opportunities that they might not otherwise get. Such as a private school with an impeccable record in England who has taken interest is seeing this child reach her true potential. If you are reluctant to have the child leave the country or even this area, the school offers tutors who would come here to teach the girl. I…”

Wilkins held up his hand interrupting the man’s longwinded speech. “So in other words, the council has finally noticed my little Buffy’s slayer potential and wants to get their hands on her before she learns to think for herself. Isn’t that what you are trying to tell me?” he asked, pleasantly.

Philip Cole stood with his mouth hanging open in shock. “I…I have no idea what you’re talking about.” He tried, his voice rising in pitch.

“Come now, Mr. Cole. We both know the Watcher’s Council wants my Buffy. And now I’m letting you know that you won’t be getting her.”

“Very well, then.” The man caved. “I don’t know what you think you know, or what you plan to do with a Slayer, but I must point out that not all the girls who have the potential are Called. Elizabeth will have a better chance of being a slayer if you let us give her the proper training. Otherwise, with the Council’s connections and you not being her birth parent we will be forced to take her from you.”

Wilkins leaned back in his chair with a smirk and the confidence gain of over a century of life. “Well now, if you think it will help, feel free to try.” He said still smiling. “But I’ll tell you now that I’ve covered all my bases. Even the Council’s political connections won’t help this time.” He picked up a bowl of mints from his desk and held it out. “Help yourself.” He offered, smiling.

Cole scowled at the candies. “We may not be able to get her legally, but be assured that if she becomes the Slayer, we will take her by whatever means necessary.” Cole’s voice had gone hard and cold. “By not letting us train her you are only making it harder on her. Be reasonable, sir. Let us bring in a Watcher for her and we’ll allow her to stay with you for as long as is covenant.” He added, trying to sound reasonable.

“You’ve most likely figured out by now, I’m not your ordinary Joe. Over the years I’ve seen and heard of many things. I love Buffy with all my heart and I will not subject her to what the Watchers call training, Mr. Cole. It’s nearly the twenty-first centaury and yet the Watcher’s Council treats those young women as if it were sill the Stone Age.” He said, his voice just as cold and hard as the other man’s. “As for taking her by force, I wouldn’t advise you try.”

He reached under his desk and pressed hidden button. Two of Sunnydale’s finest came though the door. “I do believe that Mr. Cole’s greencard has expired.” He told them, “See to it that he is properly exported. Until then make sure he’s comfortable.” His voice once again pleasant he added, “Mr. Cole, my regards and regrets to the Council. Have a good day now!”

“And how did the Slayer die?” Quinton Travers asked the watcher.

“Rather stupidly in my opinion, sir. A gang of Vamps attacked a covenants store and took hostages. I told the girl there was nothing she could do, but she went against my orders and tried to save the people anyway. There were six Vamps, and the child didn’t stand a chance. She did surprise me however. She managed to take out four of the buggers.”

Quinton nodded and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “We need to send the new Slayer to the hellmouth.” He announced to the room. “Which of the trainees was Called.” He was answered with silence. “Well?” he demanded.

A young female watcher cautiously made her way forward. Bearing bad news to the Council was not always safe for the courier. “Sir, the new Slayer is one we had dismissed as a possibility.”

“So. This has happened before. Send her a Watcher and then send them to the Hellmouth.”

“Sir, the Slayer is already on the Hellmouth. It’s the girl we tried to retrieve from the Mayor of Sunnydale a few years ago.”

Quinton’s face went grim and even harder than it normally was. “That man has blocked our every attempt at getting the Summers girl. He has even had three watchers banned from the country. If I remember correctly I asked you to research him for us. What have you found out?” he asked.

“Not much, sir.” She answered. She hurried on when she looked at his face. “We know that his family has held the title of mayor in the town for over a century. He has quite a bit of old family money, has never even been suspected of any wrong doings and is raising the child of his deceased sister, one Joyce Wilkins, who later married one Hank Summers. They both died in a fire a little over a year after they were married. The only survivor is one Elizabeth Ann Summers or Buffy, as she prefers. His law firm is Wolfram and Hart, based in LA. They have blocked every legal attempt we have made to retrieve the girl.”

“Is that all?” he asked. Upon receiving a nod he sighed, “A man with so little known about him and who knows of the Council may be very dangerous. We can’t risk letting him have a Slayer. Who and how many contacts do we have in Sunnydale?”

“Only two sir. Miles Gantry, who owns a local bar that caters to the supernatural, and Rupert Giles who is do to have the next Slayer.”

“Ripper!” chuckled Quinton, sound for the first time more cheerful. “A good man, Rupert, but he was never any good at following orders. His morals may interfere with his duties and what I’d need him to do. Contact Miles and tell him I need him to take a message to the Master.” The room that had a moment before been filled with whispers of outrage at someone not turning over a slayer the moment before fell deathly quite.

“Yes sir.” The woman answered as she regained her power of speech “Right away.”

The vamps shoved the human dressed in tweed into the Master’s lair. Picking himself up off the floor the man glared at the vampires unafraid. “Where?” he asked calmly. The lead vamp called Luke pointed at a pool of blood on the ground. Light began to come form it, and then the image of a demonic vampire rose from the pool.

“What do you want here, watcher?” The voice came from that came from the vamp was deep, and gravely. For the first time since beginning this mission, the man called Miles showed fear.

“The Council knows about the prophecy that is supposed to free you.” He answered. “We also know that you will fight the current slayer to the death. Her death. As she presents us with some difficulty we offer to give you information on how to bring her to you and help the prophecy along. In exchange, after the Harvest and your freedom you will leave the Hellmouth, never to return. Agreed?”

The Master laughed darkly. These fools didn’t even realize that without the Slayer he couldn’t be freed. “Agreed.” He answered.

Mile smiled to himself as he was escorted out of the lair. He knew the council had a strike getting ready to kill that damned vamp as soon as he was freed. But first they would let the bastard kill the Slayer. And the best part was, that since it was all written in prophecy it couldn’t fail. Stupid vamps he silently laughed.

When her powers had awakened, uncle Rich had showed her all about the vampires and demons he had been telling her about for as long as she could remember. While it had all sounded unbelievable, her uncle had never lied to her before, and so she hadn’t doubted him for a moment. He had taken her slaying the first few times just to make sure she had it under control. He had also pointed out all his vampire employees so that she wouldn’t accidentally stake any of them. A few of them, the best fighters were detailed as sparing partners for her.

She knew it was her duty as the Chosen One to protect her uncle and the unsuspecting population of Sunnydale from demons who refused to acknowledge her uncle’s dominion over this town. Just as she knew that when he ascended that she would have to handle the parts of his business where he would have to deal with normal people. Here she was a sophomore in high school, and still he trusted her to do her duty.

She felt another one trying to sneak up behind her. Any vamp stupid enough to attack her couldn’t possibly work for her uncle. She kept walking pretending she didn’t notice. When it reached out to grab her from behind she quickly turned and connected with its jaw using a front snap kick. The vamp stumbled back dazed. Its head and vision cleared just in time to see its dinner shove a stake into its heart. After that there was only dust.

She needed to get home early tonight. Tomorrow was the first day of school, and she didn’t want Cordelia to see her with bags under her eyes. The last thing she needed was to give the cheerleader another reason make fun of her. Since she had met Melody and Harmony Cordy and the gang had turned really bitchy with her. They even made her stop sitting with them at lunch. Hard to believe her and Cordy used to be best friends.

She was shaken from her thoughts as she heard a scream. She ran towards the sound and came upon three vamps taking two boys and a girl into a tomb in the cemetery a short ways from the local nightclub. The largest male vamp was fighting to hold one of the boys as the female was already attached to the neck of the other boy draining his blood. She rushed in after them kneeing one vamp and throwing him into the wall. She pulled her stake and used it to punch the female vamp in the face knocking her back, then turned just in time to dust the other male as he moved up behind her. The other male had picked itself up from the floor and moved to attack, but quickly joined his dusted brother on the mausoleum floor. The female took the opportunity to jump the slayer from behind. The uninjured boy and girl grabbed their friend and made a fast exit, supporting him between them. Out of nowhere another vamp attacks Buffy and throws her across the room into the wall. He pinned her to the floor then moved forward to bite her, only to burn himself on the cross Uncle Rich had given her when her powers became active. Buffy used the distraction to escape the two vamps. Thinking only of escape, she is surprised to find the two boys and the girl in a struggle with even more vamps outside. Thoughts of escape vanished as she moved into the fray speedily dusting two of the vamps before the others retreated. Unfortunately they had managed to take the boy weakened by the bite with them.

“D-d… you j-just kill those monster that were t-trying to eat us?” the girl asked. She was pale with long red hair and large eyes. The boy had dark hair, and was fairly handsome in a not quite finished kind of way.

“Yeah” he added, “What were those things? And what are they going to do with Jesse?

“Willow, right?” Buffy said to the red head. “I think we’re in the same English class.” She held out her hand, helping the girl to her feet. She looked over at the boy and broke into a grin. “And you, of course, are Xander Harris. You know Cordy really hates your guts.” She added, laughingly. More seriously she told them. “I’m afraid it’s to late for your friend. They’re going to drain him or turn him.”

“What do you mean, turn him?” Willow asked quietly.

“Those were vampires, and they weren’t trying to eat you only drink your blood.” She told them.

The girl suddenly looked around and realized where they were. “Um…shouldn’t we leave before more come.” She added nervously.

“Sure, I’ll walk you guys home.” Buffy said.

“Are you serious?” Xander asked, “Those were real live undead vampires?”

“Yep.” She said. “Good reason to stay in after dark, huh.”

Willow’s eyes went round. “I thought he was just crazy.” She said softly.

“Who?” asked Buffy. Uncle Rich liked to know who was aware of the supernatural in Sunnydale.

“Mr. Giles. He’s the school librarian.”

“The school has a library?” Xander asked trying to sound shocked, which after what they had just been through wasn’t too hard.

Buffy smile at the remark, and Xander tried to walk a little taller. “Seriously, what does the school librarian know about vamps?” she asked turning her attention back to the redhead.

“Oh…I caught him reading about demons and stuff in this really old book with that new girl and asked him what he was doing and he told me he was trying to find out why the local vampires were more active than normal and…”

“Okay, okay, Will. Get to the point.” Xander interrupted.

“Oh… just that he tried to pretend he was joking after he realized what he was saying, but I could tell he wasn’t. Joking I mean. The new girl didn’t even crack a smile. I just thought they were crazy.”

They had walked a few blocks from the club talking about school, vamps, and weird English librarians when Willow stopped. “This is my house.” She announced. “I think Xander is stay with me tonight.”

“Oh, I didn’t know you two were… you know.” Said Buffy.

“W-w…we aren’t…I d-don’t…we’re just friends!” she stuttered, her face turning as red as her hair.

“Okay, I believe you” Buffy said holding up her hands amused by her new friend. “How about introduce me to this librarian at school tomorrow?” she changed the subject, much to the redhead’s relief.

“Sure. He’ll be happy to have someone come to the library, even if you don’t get a book. Come to think of it, whenever I try to check one out I almost have to pry it from his hands, so not getting a book should make him even more happy.” She said smiling.

“Cool. Then I’ll met you at lunch tomorrow, okay?”

“We’ll be waiting.” Said Xander. “Those…vampires seemed pretty strong. Maybe you can tell us how you know about them and, you know, tossed them around like that?”

“Maybe.” Buffy answered backing away. “I really have to go. See you tomorrow!” she soon vanished into the night. She knew that most people would call some of the things uncle Rich did evil. She knew that on occasion he had even had to have people…removed, as he would say, despite his efforts to keep her as far from that part of his business as possible. But could it truly be evil to kill a few humans if in the end the goals turned out the benefit the majority of them.

Just in case, she would meet this librarian who knew of vamps, and see if he was really a threat before she decided if she should uncle Rich. But if he is a threat to uncle Rich I’ll make sure it won’t be for long. I’ll be damned before I lose the last of my family.

Maybe I should have told uncle Rich about him after all. Buffy thought, ruthlessly attacking the reinforced training bag. I never had to work this hard at anything! Still, she had to admit that since Willow had introduced them that the man had taught her more than she had ever imagined there was left to learn after all the classes her uncle had put her though. Her workout with the bag came to a sudden unexpected end as she misjudged her strength and knocked it loose.

“Oops.” She looked sheepishly at her newest and in her opinion, best trainer.

“Now Buffy,” Giles said in that tone he used to convey disappointment, “You really must work on controlling your powers. Training equipment is expensive and the Council doesn’t reimburse me for them.”

“Sure, Giles. I’ll work on it.” She said, giving him her best sincere look.

The man was almost a complete mystery to her. The most he would tell her was that he worked for an organization, which took it upon itself to teach and train people with special abilities to fight against the forces of darkness.

He had listened as Willow and Xander told him of their rescue from the vampires, then excitedly excused himself for a few moments. When he had returned, he’d looked greatly disappointed, but had proceeded to tell her of his Council what he did. He also told her that he thought he knew why the vamps were more active than usual. It was time for something known as the Harvest. He had then asked her how she had discovered vampires. She told him some lie about being attacked and discovering her powers as she defended herself, and while he had looked skeptical, he hadn’t called her on the lie. He had then asked if she would be interested in training with him as he only had two students at the moment, and would need all the help he could get to prevent this horrific event, and she had agreed.

Of course she hadn’t known at the time that one of his students was a vampire. Sure, it was an incredibly cute vampire, but in the end still a vamp. She shuddered at the lectures she would get from both her uncle and Giles if either found out she had been dating said vamp for some time now.

She got her revenge in the fact that in taking her on as a student, Mr. Giles was also stuck with her new best friends. Willow wasn’t much of a problem, and in fact had been on the computer researching the Harvest almost since the word had left the watcher’s mouth. Since then she had on several occasions been the one to find key bits of research. Xander on the other hand seemed to constantly get on the watcher’s nerves. Buffy got no end of amusement out of the inevitable strife between the pair.

“I suppose that’s enough for today.” The watcher told her with a sigh. “Go shower, then come help Kendra and Willow find any information on this Harvest.”

She still didn’t know what to make of the quite, ever serious Kendra. The girl was always respectful and polite and once while patrolling Buffy had seen what looked like awe on the girl’s face as she had watched her slay, but every attempt at making their alliance into a true friendship was rebuffed. Added to the fact that she could hold her own when they practiced together, and the girl was even more of a mystery than Rupert Giles.

Buffy did happen to know that the girl had been seeing Xander on the sly for as long as she had know the two. In fact, Xander seemed to be the only one Kendra allowed any emotion for. Not that she was cold. Buffy knew that she cared a great deal more then she let on. She had been beside herself with fear the time Willow had been knocked unconscious by a vamp while Kendra had been walking her home. She had stayed at the redheads side whenever possible a week after that.

Her shower finished, Buffy returned to the library to do her part in the research department. She smiled, as she looked at her new friends hard at work, trying to save the world. They may not have been as popular as some people at Sunnydale High, but they were the first real friends she had ever had.

She remembered the night of the Harvest. Willow had been the one to discover that it was to be that same night. This was later confirmed when Angel arrived and told what he had discovered with his contacts.

Bored with the whole research thing, Buffy had left using the excuse of searching for Jesse. After looking around for a while she is shocked to actually find the boy in fairly good shape. Only as she got closer did she notice that the boy had his vamp face on. More Vamps arrived surrounding the slayer. She didn’t remember much about the fight except that she had escaped through some kind of grating.

When she arrived back at the library, Willow explained that her research said that on the night of the Harvest the Master vampire can draw power from one of its minions, called the Vessel while it feeds then use the power to break free of his prison. The Vessel would be recognized by the three, pointed star, which would mark its forehead. Xander in a flash of brilliance guessed that the only place for a vamp on a feeding frenzy would be the Bronze.

But by the time they had arrived, the suck fest was in full swing, with the Master gaining strength from every victim. Buffy and Kendra immediately moved though the crowd dusting vamps, when suddenly Buffy saw what she had been looking for. It was the vamp that had attacked her the night before, but most importantly, he had the three, pointed star on his forehead.

After a few exchanged blows, she knew that she might not be good enough to kill him in a fair fight. Thinking quickly she broke a window letting the streetlight shin in, hoping that the vamp would mistake it for sunlight. It worked. As the vamp cringed in fear she plunged her stake into its heart ending any chances of the Master escaping. At least for that time.

As time passed, more and more the Slayer impressed Rupert Giles. Her abilities rivaled the most powerful Slayers recorded in the watchers’ histories. Which is why he could imagine why the Council had ordered him to stay strictly away from her. When Willow Rosenberg had delivered the missing slayer right into his hands, he had wasted no time informing the Council of the news.

The Council’s response had been less than satisfactory however. After being briefly put on hold Quinton himself had came on the line and told him that the Council had known where the girl was for some time, and that plans were in motion with the aid of prophecy to ensure that the loyalty of the Slayer remains where it had always been since the beginning of recorded history. Giles had then been coldly informed that any interference by him or his trainee would be seen as treason. He know very well, what was done with traitors. Death would be a release.

But Giles had never been one to blindly obey rules. Case in point, the vampire who had just walked though the doors. Soul or not, the Council had one rule concerning vampires. If you saw one you put a stake though its heart. Normally that was one rule he would’ve happily obeyed, but since the vamp had come to him with Merrick’s wishes, he had reluctantly allowed him to stay. A decision he had become thankful for on more than one occasion. Before Buffy’s arrival he had saved Kendra’s life twice that he knew of.

The Council, in their infinite wisdom had ordered him to start sending the slayer trainee on patrols until they located the current Slayer. She handled her self extremely well, but without the slayer power it was only a matter of time before the girls was killed. Although trained by the council for most of her life, she had been more than willing to accept any help she could get, even a vampire. She knew of the orders for them to stay away from the current slayer as well, but with Giles’ encouragement was learning to question her orders and think for herself. She pretended to be cold and unimpressed by Buffy, but Giles had been with her long enough to see the deep respect growing between the two.

Even though they were both disobeying orders, the two of them had agreed to keep the information given the Buffy, Willow, and Xander to the most believable minimum.

The Vampire’s eyes searched the room for a second before settling on the blond slayer. As his gaze settled on her, his usual mask of brooding indifference was replace with a love of life that only the blind would miss. Giles hoped that the two of them knew what they were doing, but because of the Council orders was reluctant to interfere.

The watcher shook his head to himself, an amused slightly superior smirk on his face. He couldn’t believe the two thought they were actually fooling anyone about their feelings. It was there on each face for anyone who cared to look.

“I need to go.” Buffy told the room as she stood. She smiled apologetically, “My uncle has some stuff he wants me to take care of for him.

Looking to Willow and Kendra, and very consciously not looking at Angel she added, “I can’t make it to the Bronze tonight, guys so I’ll see you tomorrow. Later Giles.” She walked towards the door. At the last minute her voice slightly husky she added, “Angel.”

Giles still found it difficult to fathom why the Council wanted him to have nothing to do with the girl. In the time he had known her, she and Kendra had gone though more than most slayers went though in a year and in the process became very good friends. When Amy’s mother had taken over her body, and cast a spell that had nearly killed Buffy, the girl had acted as though it was just another part of life for her.

The whole thing with Miss French had nearly been too much, even for him. Angel had arrived at the Bronze bruised and bloody to warn Buffy of a new vampire in town. So when something had attacked one of the teachers at school Buffy had been busy tracking this new vamp.

So Kendra had taken it upon herself to keep an eye on things around the school. Her investigation gave her only one suspect. The new substitute teacher, Miss French. She told herself that Miss French being a substitute had nothing to do with the way Xander drooled over the woman. She was a slayer trainee, and emotions didn’t interfere with her doing her job. As she follows the teacher though the park she sees the woman approached by a vamp with claws for one hand. She thinks about letting the vamp have her, but not seriously. Just as she is about to move to protect the woman, the vampire sniffs her and runs away terrified. She watched as the woman turns her head 180 degrees, suddenly knew why the woman was obsessed with preying mantises, being one herself.

A few seconds after the creature walks away, Kendra sees Buffy come out of the bushes and guessed the slayer had been following the vamp that had run away. She walks over to Kendra.

“Did she just…” the blond asked, a frown on her face.

“Oh yeah.” Answered Kendra. She sighed, “At least now we know who killed that teacher.”

“Xander, I can’t believe you were stupid enough to go with her after both Buffy and I warned you!” Kendra told the sheepish boy. After finding out the boy was missing she and Buffy had been almost positive where he had gone. Some quick research and a recording of bat sonar later, they had gone to the She-Mantis’ house, used the sonar to immobilize it and hacked the creature to pieces.

“She must have been using some sort of magic on me.” The boy said hopefully.

She smiled up at him, “Uh huh”. She couldn’t really stay mad at him. And in the end everything had turned out okay. Making sure no one was close enough to hear she whispered to him, “We’ll have to take care of that virginity thing. Wouldn’t want this to happen twice.” And she walked away leaving him with his mouth hanging open.

The nightmares were getting worse. Over and over she would dream of being attacked and killed by the Master. Uncle Rich had cast a spell that was supposed to help, and for a while it had. But then the dreams had returned more realistic than ever. Uncle Rich had been so happy that he had helped her that she didn’t have the heart to tell him his spells hadn’t worked.

That was why she was out walking patrol in the middle of the night, on a school night. She felt the, tell, tell tingle that alerted her to the presence of a vampire, and looked around before spotting the female vamp who had attacked Xander when they had first met. She had encountered this vamp on more than one occasion, and had asked Giles about her.

She knew that the vamp was known as Darla, and that for a time, she and Angel had roamed Europe leave a path of blood and destruction wherever they went. Even with her stepped up training, she found it difficult to hold her own against the woman. Added to the fact that she had dated Angel, and there was nothing Buffy wanted more than to put a stake though the bitch’s heart. She shifted into a combat stance as she watched Darla approach.

“Hello, Slayer.” She said in that annoyingly husky voice of hers. “Don’t worry, I’m not here to kill you. At least not right now.”

“What do you want then?” Buffy asked, not moving from her stance.

“I just wanted to tell you, that my Master has Angel. If you want him back in one piece you may want to save him before the Master completes his spell. He intends to transfer his essence into Angel’s body.”

“And why would you warn me?” Buffy asked, suspicious.

Darla sighed dramatically, “Despite our differences, I still love that boy. And he loves me. You are nothing more than another of his passing fazes soon to be forgotten in the eternity that is our lives. Unfortunately, you are also the only one who can save him. Meet me in the park tomorrow at sunset. I’ll show you where he is and help as much as I can.” Without waiting for a response the vampire left.

She immediately went to the library to tell Giles what Darla had told her, only when she got there, she didn’t see him. Then she heard his voice talking to someone in the stacks and went toward it. Then she heard her name.

“I don’t know what I can do.” She heard Giles telling Kendra. “Tomorrow she’ll face the Master and she will die. The Council has forbidden me to warn her or attempt to help her in any way.”

“Nice to know I can depend on you.” Buffy stated harshly as she let her presence by known. “You were just going to let me walk in there and die.” She accused the man she had been quickly growing to like.

“Buffy!” Giles turned to her startled. “What are you doing here this time of night?”

“Looking for you, actually. Darla came to me while I was patrolling. She said that the Master has taken Angel, and intends to take over his body. For some stupid reason I thought you being my friend would be able to help. How long have you known about this prophecy?”

“Oh, um I just came across it this morning. I would have told you sooner, but I had to call the Council to see if it was genuine.” He answered. “I really was going to tell you, Buffy.” he said with sincerity.

“Is there any way to avoid it?” the girl asked, calming down a little.

“Before you told me about Angel I would have said simply don’t go to the master’s lair, but now if you don’t show he takes Angel’s body and comes to you. And with the Council’s restrictions any help I can give you will be minimum. I’m truly sorry Buffy.”

“I can do it Giles. I’m not ready to die!” she cried hysterically. “I can’t leave uncle Rich alone.” And before the watcher or her friend could comfort her the girl ran from the building She went to a great deal of trouble avoiding the next morning, until Willow found the classroom full of bodies. It was at that point that she realized that afraid or not, she would face her destiny.

She had taken her crossbow and gone to meet Darla. The vampire lead her straight into the trap set by the Master with no little help from the Council who had been discreetly keeping an eye on things.

Shortly after she left, Xander and Willow had arrived at the library. When Kendra told them what was going on, Xander had enlisted her help and the two of them had gone to follow the slayer, while Giles and Willow looked though the books for an alternative ending to the prophecy. But when Kendra and he arrived at the master’s lair they were too late. There lying in a puddle was a very dead looking Buffy. The master had taken enough of her blood to break free, then left her lying in the puddle to drown.

As she sees the body, Kendra feels the change come over her as her own slayer powers are awakened, and knows her friend to be as dead as she looked. But Xander refused to believe she couldn’t be saved and performed CPR on Buffy. To both their surprise the Slayer took a shuddering breath coughed up some water and opened her eyes.

“Where’s Angel?” she asked

“I saw Darla taking him out that tunnel.” Kendra told her, pointing at the opening to the sewers beneath the town.

Buffy nodded, “ That lying little bitch.” She muttered so quietly that only Kendra understood her words. “Okay. Here’s the plan. Kendra, you and Xander try to save Angel. Try not to fight Darla if you can avoid it. She’s too strong. I’ll go after the Master. I owe him one.”

“Got it.” Kendra said, dragging Xander away before he could protest. She hesitated long enough to look back and say, “Be careful, Buffy. The world would be a lot less interesting without you.” She turned and left before the other slayer could reply. She would save Angel, and then tell Giles what had happened. In the main time she didn’t want Buffy to know that she had been Called. She hated keeping secrets from her friend, but until Giles stopped worrying about what the Council would do to them, she would keep her promise to her watcher.

Sunnydale was overrun with the undead. Some were newly turned, but the majority, were made up of vamps that had been dusted, but were revived by the Master’s power. As he exited his lair, the Master took in his first breath of fresh air in far too long.

But his pleasure in his newly found release from his accursed prison is short lived. Paying too much attention to his minions, he failed to notice the Council’s special operations team until they made their presence felt, destroying some of his newly revived children. Bullets flew in hail of automatic gunfire, cutting down vampires left and right. And as they would lie there waiting to recover from the non-fatal wounds humans with swords and stakes would move forward staking and beheading the wounded.

The Master growled angrily as he watched his children fall. He could see that eventually they would overrun the humans opposing them, but so many of them were being lost. Not that he cared for any of them in particular, but reviving them had used power, and the humans killing them made that power wasted. Then he heard a familiar voice.

“You didn’t think the Council would really let a demon like you walk the earth unchallenged, did you?” called the voice of Miles Gantry. Although not the leader, he was never the lest a member of the group destroying his children

The Master felt his anger rise. “The Council.” He growled out. His anger reached new levels as he realized that they had betrayed him before he had a chance to betray them first. He strolled toward the embattled humans ignoring the impacts of bullets riddling his body. He knocked aside any of his children who crossed his path, pausing only to kill an occasion stray human resident of the Hellmouth that crossed his path. He would have to put aside some time to torture them properly later. For now all he wanted was the Council’s assassins. But especially he wanted Miles Gantry.

As he reached them the men stopped firing their weapons and instead tried using them as clubs, along with knives. The other who had been out staking and beheading wounded vamps were quickly overwhelmed by the surviving vamps when the cover fire stopped. The Master took his time killing the council team until only three were left. As they cowered in the ally the Master turned his gaze to Gantry. “You, I will kill slowly.” He told the man. “But first watch as I kill your companions.” While the screams of the two men lasted only for a quarter of an hour, there was no doubt in Miles’ mind of the pain the men had endured before the relief of death was granted. When the master turned his gaze back to his last victim, Gantry felt his bowels release. Soiled and crying of fear, the man used his last hope for a quick death. He wasn’t so foolish as to hope to leave alive, but in this situation, a fast death would be just as good.

As the ancient vampire moved toward him he spoke in desperation, “Wait! Wait!” When the master paused he continued, “We…The Council knows how you were trapped between dimensions. You were trying to open the Hellmouth, but something went wrong. We… I know what went wrong.” He paused and collected the little dignity he had left, seeing as he was sitting in an ally about to die in soiled clothing. “Let me live and I’ll tell you. I’ll tell you how to open the Hellmouth.” He finished in a whisper. He knew that with those words he had just betrayed everything he had ever believed in. Oddly enough, he couldn’t make himself care.

After leaving the Master’s lair Buffy had seen Sunnydale overrun by vampires. To make matters worse, other demons were taking advantage of the chaos and reeking havoc all throughout the small town. No way I’m gonna be able to keep this from uncle Rich she thought as she made her way towards the library. The trip which would have normally taken only a few minutes took nearly thirty as the Slayer had to pause occasionally to help out an innocent victim, or fight her way through gangs of vamps.

She arrived in time to save the librarian from a group of particularly aggressive vamps that had attacked the school, and were still trying to get into the library even though from the piles of dust she could see that Giles had more than held his own.

She killed the last of them and tried to open the library doors only to find something was jammed up behind them. Not wanting to waste time, she kicked the doors sending them flying open and immediately went though them. And just barely caught the crossbow quiver that came flying at her heart.

“Watch it with that thing huh, Giles! Dieing once a night is more than enough.” She told the watcher, sarcastically.

“Buffy!” he cried excitedly, “You’re okay!” He put down the crossbow and came around the table to give the girl a hug. “What, with all the vampires running loose we thought for sure that the Master had…defeated you.” He finished lamely.

“Killed, you mean.” The girl said as she felt herself being embraced by a second set of arms. Looking over she saw that Willow too was hugging her with tears running from her eyes.

“The prophecy came true.” She told the librarian as he stepped back from the embrace. “The bastard bit me, the left me to drown in a puddle of water. Lucky for me that Xander and Kendra followed me. Xander did CPR and here I stand, breathing. I’ll never take it for granted again.” She said taking a deep breath.

Straitening his tie, and regaining his British reserve the watcher asked, “So the master is free?”

“Yep. Big as life. That’s why I came to you. I need to know where he would go after getting free of his prison.” She asked him.

“Yes, lets see. I know I have it…Ah here we are.” Said going though the books on the table and then picking one up. “These are the records of the Master that the Council has kept over the years. It seems that when he came to America, it was with a definite goal in mind. He intended to open the Hellmouth, thus letting the two worlds merge, but he made a miscalculation. In order for his spell to work he needed to find a weak area on the gate to cast it. He chose what was until recently his prison, but although weaker then other areas it was still to strong for his intentions. The results were his being trapped between this world and hell. He imprisoned himself” the watcher let a little satisfaction at that turn of events shine though.

“Giles” Buffy said in an exasperated voice. “That still doesn’t tell me where he’s going.”

“Yes. Lets see. The book tells that the Master was obsessed with his goal in the years before was trapped. I would wager that nothing has changed. Find the weakest point on the Hellmouth and you find the Master.”

“How is she supposed to find the weakest point?” asked Willow. “Is that one of her slayer powers she hasn’t learned yet?”

“Not that I’ve heard of.” He answered, distractedly as he moved around the library gathering materials. “I will attempt to find the Master with a spell, although for a being of his power it isn’t likely that I will succeed.”

“The weakest point, huh” the Slayer said. She didn’t know where that was right off hand, but she was sure her uncle kept the information in his files. “Keep trying the spell, Giles. I…”she couldn’t tell them her uncle kept this type of info without giving away that he was more than he seemed. “I have another idea.” She said, leaving before he could ask questions. “Are you sure you’re up for this? Being that you just died and all.” Willow asked walking her to the door. “I have to be” she answered, gave her a one armed hugged and hurried to her uncle’s office.

“Which way do we go?” Xander asked the girl who was discreetly holding his hand. Although he thought it was because of Giles’ training, Kendra’s Slayer abilities had unfalteringly allowed them to follow the two vampires though the town’s sewers. Mostly they had only had two choices of were to go, but now there were five different tunnels, including the one they had just come out of.

Kendra suspected that in a normal situation her slayer senses would pick the right one with not problems, but the situation tonight was hardly normal. Life on the Hellmouth, she thought darkly. Give me a sunny Jamaican beach any day.

With all the vamps running around above ground it was getting harder and harder to track Darla and Angel in the sewers. The vamps above ground kept setting off her senses as she tried to search out the two underground with her and Xander.

She heard a groaning noise coming from the tunnel to the left of the one directly in front of them. “This way!” she said confidently, pulling Xander after her down the tunnel. They had gone less than a hundred yards when they suddenly came upon Darla fighting to drag a chain, but very much struggling Angel along the tunnel.

“You know, this reminds me of one of those cartoons where the cavewoman hits a caveman over the head and takes him home to be her husband.” Xander quipped to Darla. “Hard to believe you can’t get a date. Then again, it has proberly gotten around that you’re a man-eater. Or drinker.”

The blond vampire spun towards them with a growl as she shifted into gameface. When she saw who was behind her, she looked puzzled for a moment. “I thought I felt the Slayer?” she looked around confused.

“Nope. Just us nonslayer type vamp dusting types here.” Xander said launching himself into an attack. He managed to land a blow before being knocked into the side of the tunnel and slumping down unconscious.

Kendra winced at the trickle of blood flowing from her boyfriend’s head. She just knew he was going to have a headache when he woke up.

“Your turn” was all the warning she got as Darla threw a punch at her head. Her new speed, allowed her duck beneath the swing and sweep the vamp’s legs giving her time to recover. When Darla regained her feet, Kendra was waiting for her in combat stance, with a drawn stake.

A few feints later and Darla knew she hadn’t been mistaken when she sensed a Slayer nearby. “So you’re the new one. At least I know the other one is dead, now. No one touches what’s mine and lives.” She told her opponent. The whole while she talked she continued her assault, never slowing down or hesitating. Then she threw one punch that was just a fraction harder then it should have been, throwing her just slightly off balance. Kendra caught her arm as she ducked the blow and jammed her stake into the vamp’s stomach missing her heart. As the vamp stood looking at her wound in shock, Kendra said, “Buffy is very much alive. She sends her regards.” She pulled the stake from the vamps stomach and plunged it into her heart.

“Princess, there are vampires running rampant throughout the city. This is the type of things the residents of Sunnydale pay taxes for me to prevent. What’s going on out there?” Mayor Richard Wilkins asked his niece when she entered his office face flushed and slightly out of breath.

“Short version.” She told him as she went to his filing cabinet and started going though his files. “An ancient master vampire known as the Master was trapped in a lair in the sewers, while trying to open the Hellmouth. He’s been trying to get free for the last few months, which is why I’ve been so busy and there were more vamps running around than usual. Until tonight I managed to keep him trapped with some help from some friends, but tonight he escaped and I think he’s going to try to open the Hellmouth again, most likely with better info, and I have to stop him.” She finished, frowning down at the files.

“I remember hearing something about him years ago.” Wilkins told her. He got up and joined her at the filing cabinet and asked with utter confidence in her abilities, “What do you need.”

She looked up at her uncle and was proud that he still trusted in her to make the city safe after she had spent the last few months keeping secrets from him, and smiled. “I need to know where the weakest point on the Hellmouth is located.” She told him.

He smiled back at her, “Is that all? It’s beneath the high school.” He told her.

“That explains the teachers and Snyder.” The blond said. Suddenly her eyes went wide. “Oh God! I left Gi…” she stopped herself before saying the watcher full name. “I left some friend at the library. I have to go, Uncle Rich. Thanks.” She gave him a quick peck on the cheek and ran for the door.

“Buffy wait!” he called to the young woman he had grown to love. When she stopped and looked back, he warned her. “Don’t trust any of the vamps that work for us, sweetheart. The power of this Master has affected them just like every other vamp in this town. And please, honey. Be careful?”

“Always Uncle Rich.” She told him, as she disappeared down the hall.

If that vampire hurts her I’ll make him wish he were still trapped. He thought as he waited for this to end one way or another. He’d have to look into getting some more reliable help. These vampires were almost worthless.

Kendra had woken Xander by splashing some water on his face and the two of them had unchained, (Kendra discreetly using her slayer strength with Angel to pop a link) Angel and bought him back to the library so that Giles could help fix him up. As they had made their way she hadn’t really paid attention to the fact that all the vamps she could sense were headed to the same place as she.

They had made it with no interference and Giles was treating Angel’s wounds when the Master arrived. This close, there was no way for him to hide his presence from a Slayer.

“Oh Shit.” Kendra said, and the others looked over to see what had made the normally unshakable girl swear for the first time any of them had heard.

“What is it, Kendra?” Giles asked when the slayer continued to sit in her chair in shock.

Before she could answer, vampires started pouring through the doors. And just as quickly the newest slayer moved to engage them, calling over her shoulder “The Master is on the roof. I’m going after him. The rest of you hold them off for as long as you can!” And with that she had fought her way out the door.

“Kendra wait!” Xander struggled to reach the girl, but was promptly thrown back into the library

Giles tossed the crossbow he’d picked up when the vamps entered to Xander just as a vamp was about to pounce on the prone boy. Xander caught it, fired into the demon’s heart and was showered in dust.

“We can’t let her go after that thing alone!” he yelled as he jumped to his feet, threw the crossbow into a vamp’s face, grabbed up a sword from the table beheaded the distracted creature. “Don’t worry” Giles called to the boy. “Her training will keep her safe until Buffy arrives. The boy looked dubious, but nodded his agreement. What else could he do with a hundred vamps between him and the woman he loved? He was only human after all.

She arrived and saw the vamps going into the school. She saw that while most converged on the library, a few were headed for the basement. She was about to follow the latter until she felt the tingle of her senses tell her she needed to go up, not down.

She came onto the roof just in time to see the Master about to throw Kendra though the skylight. Sprinting forward at top speed she crashes into them causing the Master to drop Kendra safely onto the roof. Kendra’s head hit the cement floor and bounced, dazing the girl.

At the thought of what had almost happened to her friend, Buffy forgot her fear of being killed and attacked the vampire in a rage. The Master stunned at being attacked by the girl he thought he had killed, was at a complete disadvantage. The blond Slayer just kept going attacking with everything she had ever learned and with each attack the Master backed closer and closer to the skylight.

Then he took one step too many and fell crashing through the glass and wood. One of the peaces broke off jaggedly and impaled the started Master vamp right through the heart. All that landed on the inside floor was dust. As he dies so do all the vamps and monsters he had created with his power. Just in time for those in the library.

“We saved the world.” Buffy says helping Kendra to her feet. “I say we celebrate!”

Giles looked over the group, no his group, as they

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