The Midnight Challenge Book 1

The Midnight Challenge Book 1

By: Zachary Bryant

Chapter 1:

Midnight Ride

A life in Scotland is a lot like Sunnydale; you have demons, vampires, and werewolves. I am still leader of her squad of Slayers; six including myself is how many I brought on this mission to a vamp nest about two miles away from the castle. This was just a regular get in, slay, and get out assignment; only six vamps in this nest in the abandoned mill.

"How close are you, Buffy?" Xander said on his walkie.

"We are almost there; about two minutes we should be there." I responded.

I brought Leah, Satsu, Rowena, Amanda, and Vi. The mill wasn't far; I knew this wasn't going to be hard, chop and stab. They should be out in five minutes at the most. We finally reached the old mill ready with weapons.

"Okay, Satsu and Leah cover the back entrance. Rowena and Amanda cover the side. Me and Vi will cover the front. Does everyone understand?" Everyone nodded. "Okay, don't let anyone get out."

Suddenly the doors went down as we stormed the place, the vampires were awakened and the fight started. Leah took the first one by decapitating it with an axe. I took two of them right there with a steak in the heart. Satsu went for one but just got threw back against the wall knocking her unconscious. Amanda took care of him with her steak.

Now only two to go, and Satsu still knocked out; Vi took one by surprise by sneaking behind it while it tries to go towards me and put a steak right in its heart. With only one to go, I took Leah's axe and goes full blast right at the vampire's neck. His head falls to the ground as it turns to dust.

I went over to Satsu trying to wake her up. "Satsu wake up! Wake up! We better bring her back." Buffy said. Xander soon called back on the walkie after they left the mill. "Buff, how'd everything go?" "Everyone's fine except Satsu go knocked out." Buffy responded. "Is she okay?" Xander asked. "She will be."

Heading to the castle was tiring; everyone was so quiet, so exhausting. I was carrying Satsu; that whole two miles. When we were about half way there, Satsu woke up, still weak. "Where are we?" she faintly said. "We're on our way back to the castle." I responded. Satsu quickly became unconscious again.

Finally making it back their home; we all just wanted to go inside and go to sleep. Xander was there to greet them and take Satsu to her room. All I did was go to my luxurious bed and sleep.

I woke up the next morning bright and perky. I seen Willow and Xander sitting at the table drinking coffee. "Hi Xand, Hi Wil." Xander turned his head up. "I Buff, how was your dream? Naughty." "Hardly, I keep having that dream where a demon takes me out of my room and kills me." I said. "Can we just go with naughty?" Xander responded. "Sorry, just for you I will have one of those dreams." "Thank you."

"So Wil, how's that coffee treating you?" I asked.

"Still makes me kinda jittery."

"You know they make coffee that tastes the same, but without caffeine."

"Yeah, I know I just haven't been sleeping well."

"Is someone keeping you up at night?" Xander inserted.

"No nothing like that it's just I have these dreams of singing on stage while spiders are falling on me." I looked at Willow for a moment. Thinking that something else is defiantly up.

"So where do you crazy gals want to go tonight?" Xander asked.

"Patrolling with the other slayers, I guess." I said.

"Com'on when's the last time it was just us three go out and kick some demon ass?"

Xander's proposal intrigued me; I used to love it when me and my two best friends went out and had quality time killing vampires. "Sure Xander we can kill and mane a couple of demons." "Just like old times!"

A potential Slayer named Cathy came into the kitchen for a bite to eat. Suddenly this big demon thing came busting in through the window. As soon as he got in he broke Cathy's neck before I even had time to move. Before I could get up the demon jumped back out the window; all it wanted was Cathy.

Xander looked at me in shock; he couldn't believe something could just come in and attack Cathy. She was a nice, quiet girl; no one would want to hurt her, except this demon.

"How did that just happen?" Xander asked still in shock.

"I don't know." I answered not knowing what to do at that time.

"Buffy, what should we do?"

I said the only thing I knew to say. "We do research, stock up on weapons, and go after this thing with everything we got. "Who should we bring along?" Willow nervously asked. "Only we are going, no one else, we can't have too much of a risk of hurting more right now."

"I guess we can go do some research." Willow suggested. So we all went to the books, this would be a whole lot easier with Giles here, but he's still in England right now.

The walk there was horrible, none of us talked the whole way there, we've all seen people die, but it's pretty unusual to see a demon pick who it wants killed. The books were right on the left. We went in and all on of were motivated to find whatever killed Cathy.

"So where should we start." I asked. I don't know if any of us really knew where to begin. "We could try the Net see what comes up." Willow responded. I decided to start in the books to see if by chance I could find anything on him. Xander went with me to help me with the books. I picked up the first book entitled "Hell Demons and Death" not a very appealing title.

"Isn't it harder to read with one eye?" I asked.

"I can't see how far away the book is, but I can still read it."

"Find anything useful?"

"No, you?"

"I found out that apparently demons like this world, but want to destroy it. Does that make any sense?"

"This would be a whole lot easier with Giles here."

"I know, but he's on a busy in England right now."

I know we looked through books for two hours and me nor Xander could find anything on this demon. Willow couldn't even find anything on the computer. I wasn't even sure we would find anything on it. This thing knew exactly what it was doing, for some reason it attacked someone it broad daylight.

"Guys, Guys come here I think I found something." Willow hurriedly said. Me and Xander both went to the computer. "Yep that's him in the disgusting flesh; he's got gray skin, and red eyes." I said. "The only thing that will kill it is to cut off the head." "Well, all I need it that axe thing I got and chop his head off." "I don't know, Buffy, you don't know where this thing went."

She's right I didn't know where this thing went, all I knew was I was going to find it and kill it. "Does it say where they usually hang around?" I asked. "Just your usual demon hang-outs."

"Okay, we just gather supplies and look in the grave sites tonight." I suggested.

"Where do you think it would go at night?" Xander asked.

"Probably a crypt asleep since it was awake during the day."

"Sounds good to me. When do we go?"

"Seven o' clock."

Everyone nodded and we went our separate ways preparing for tonight. I went to my room and got my scythe. After I got that I went to Willow's room. I walked down the stairs till I got to the third door on my right. I knew Willow would be in her room since Kennedy was in the kitchen eating dinner. I finally got there and knocked on the door.

"Come in."

"Hey."

"Hey, Buffy."

"You getting ready for tonight?"

"I guess I don't really need to bring anything."

"Ow right, magic."

"What's your plan?"

"I don't have one."

I really didn't have one; I really didn't think that part through. I having been thinking clearly, mostly because I usually didn't have to think of the plan; that was Giles' part.

"Why don't you think of one, Wil?"

"I'm not really one to think of a plan like this."

"Come on, you're the smartest one here. There is also a first time for everything."

"I guess. We could find the demon use magic to keep it contained and maybe weaken it if we can, then you and Xander take on the demon."

I was impressed that was a way better plan than I could have thought of. "I'm impressed that was a way better plan than I could have thought of."

"Really?"

"Yeah. You've gotten really good with the planning. You should be our new Giles."

"It seemed kind of boring being Giles… you know for Giles."

"Giles' old, he doesn't know how to make a job fun."

"That's true, hopefully he want make another demon again."

"I highly doubt that."

"Uh…"

"What?"

"I was just thinking."

"About who?"

"Kennedy."

"How's everything in that area going."

"It's not."

"Oh Harsh."

"She's so distant about everything, we fight a lot, and we are hardly in the same room anymore."

Willow having relationship problems is unusual since it's usually me who gets into these problems with every boy I go out with… now that I think about it I should never ever date again. I really do have problems. Alright now focus on Willow. Figures how much I've missed just thinking; now I missing more because I'm thinking about how much I missed. Buffy get focused.

"I'm just thinking Kennedy doesn't care to be in the relationship anymore."

"Well just go talk to her about this and everything will be fine."

"That's a good idea; you're a really good friend."

Wow I am good I didn't even have to listen to the conversation to tell her what to do. I must be a really good fri-

"Buffy, are you listening?"

"About what?"

"You know, your mind wonders a lot."

"It's a character flaw I am so working on."

"This is great; we haven't really talked in a while so this kind of away to catch up."

"Willow, we see each other everyday."

"I know, but it's always about work and demons and you take the new slayers on most of your missions now."

"Yeah, I guess it's just where they kind of need training since a lot of them don't have Watchers. I guess since it blew up, but still you get my point."

"I guess it's good we're doing that tonight uh?"

"Yeah I kinda missed doing this; believe it or not I kind of miss Sunnydale."

"Yeah if you want it back, maybe some demon would bring it back using magic."

"And maybe someone restores the Hellmouth."

"I'm hoping that doesn't happen."

"Yeah, me too."

Just thinking that could happen gives me the wiggins. I'm sure nothing like that could happen, but who knows someone might want the Hellmouth back open.

"I gotta head on to the Xand man."

"Okay, see ya later Buffy."

I left, that actually cheered me up a lot. I guess it's true that the tree of us don't hang out like we used to, but maybe we can reconnect again. Well now I gotta go back upstairs and go on the second door on the right. This would have been a whole lot easier if all of us had our rooms right next to each other, I mean who wants to walk up and down a bunch of stairs, it's pointless; it's without point.

I finally got to Xander's room which is two doors away from mine; why didn't I just go here first? I opened the door and I could not believe what I saw. Xander was using toothpicks to represent us and God knows what else.

Imitating my voice: "Ow no! Xander I need help!"

His voice with a higher tone: "I will save you from that vampire."

"I hope I'm not interrupting."

"How long have you been there?"

"Long enough to find out that you're disturbed in so many ways."

"Not to sound violated for some reason, but why are you here? I thought we were meeting later."

"I know, I just wanted to come talk."

"Cool, we really haven't talked in a while."

"Does everyone feel that way today?"

"Don't be too hard on yourself Buff, we know you've been busy and kind of stressed as of late."

"Yeah I guess."

Xander was right I have been really stressed lately, but maybe I do really need to spend some time with them. I still can't believe Xander was playing with toothpicks on the floor. Speaking of that when have I ever been helpless? Not counting the time I was helpless, but that's beside the point.

"So do we have a plan?" Xander asked.

"Yeah, we do."

"So…"

"So…?"

"What is it?"

"Ow right. Willow going to use a spell to contain and we cut its head off."

"Quick, simple, sounds good. So how's Dawnie been doing?"

"I don't know, she still want talk to me."

"I don't see why. She did sleep with a Thricewise."

"To be fair it was his roommate, which isn't much better."

"But why is she mad at you?"

"Apparently, I wasn't there for her, I wasn't a good parental figure."

"And this is your fault, why?"

"I really don't know."

That is a good question I never brought up myself, why is she mad at me? I didn't do anything to her, so I moved her away from the great US of A but that is still no reason to be mad at me. So I destroyed Sunnydale and made her friends leave town and then got turned into a giant, then some weird horse thing, but on the bright side she's a girl sized girl, what the hell am I talking about? Now I forgot, great.

"So, what are you bringing on this Slay fest?" I asked.

"Ow just your regular axe, it usually does the job if I actually you use it."

"Yes, I've heard if you use an axe, it does do damage."

"What about you?"

"Just your usual scythe."

"… With a stake attached to it."

"Just makes it a whole lot easier."

The next thing I knew I heard that annoying clock downstairs ring once, twice, three times, four, five, six, and finally seven. I knew it was time to find and kill this demon. Whatever came it came that's all that I knew at that moment, I knew if our plan worked we would be home by eight, but something always goes wrong.

"It's time, Buff."

"Let me just go get my scythe."

Xander nodded. I went and got my weapon and met them at the door.

"Everyone ready?" I asked.

"Yeah" Xander said.

"Where should we start to look?" Willow asked.

"I would try the cemetery."

I didn't know where to look or what to do when we did but I knew I couldn't just let this thing get away, even if it took m-

"Over there." Xander shouted.

"Willow I guess this would be a good time to get started."

Willow does her magic thing to contain the demon as I get ready to fight this. Willow sure uses weird words; I wonder what language that is: Latin, Roman, Greek. Who knows? I do I know when the spell is over.

"Buffy now."

That's probably when I know. The fight wasn't going to be long, he doesn't have that big of a neck. I went strait for the neck and missed then I stabbed him in the stomach and it really didn't affect him though. The thing actually knocked me down; it kinda took me a few minutes to get up actually. When I got up Xander was fighting it, and doing a pretty good job; I guess he has picked up a few things since the couple of years.

I got up and as Xander was distracting it; I hit it right in his back, but of course it didn't do any good, and if you repeatedly do that it still doesn't help.

Willow was still working on taking away its strength while we kept it busy. This thing either had a high pain tolerance or no nerves… do all demons have nerves, maybe next time I talk to Giles, I'll ask him that, then he probably wouldn't think it was me if I actually fanned interest. So simple note don't ask him. Alright the fight here.

Willow finally got that spell working so the demon had no power what so ever. I knew this demon had no chance now I was about to cut its head off when Xander actually did it, I was impressed and a little ashamed, not sure why though.

"Good shot Xander." I said.

"Thinks I've been practicing."

"Where have you been practicing?"

"I thought that was a figure of speech."

"No when you tell someone they've been practicing… they've usually been doing actual practice."

"Okay I will remember next time I use what I think is a figure of speech."

"Should we bury this thing?" Willow asked.

"Let the animals eat it." I responded.

"Not really sure they'll like it.

"This thing gave us quite a fight."

"Yeah I know, I was kinda there." Xander jokingly said.

"Well I guess we should head back home."

The walk back home was more fun than the last time on a mission, I didn't have to carry anyone. It was nice to talk with my friends like we used to, you know talk about things that do not involve slayage.

The next thing I knew this vampire wearing this black suit with really black hair standing right in front of the castle.

"Wow you guys are really wanting to die sooner, you stand in front of a place filled with slayers."

"I guess I'm a risk taker, and a house filled with slayers not really a threat."

"Not a threat?!"

"No if I wanted to, I could kill everyone in here before you could blink your eyes."

"So what's the deal with the black?"

"You don't know who I am, do you?"

"No, but I would love to get to know you, how about a cup of coffee."

"More of a blood drinker to be honest, but you know that."

"You want to fight now?"

"You know what, since I'm fair I'll let you get first shot."

I thought this was going to be the easiest vamp to kill ever, giving me first shot. So I started going as fast as I could with a steak and he stood there. Before I knew it, he moved a little to the left and grabbed my wrist. The next thing I heard were my bones cracking, one of the worst sounds I ever heard, and I felt the pain immediately, like razors under my skin.

"Name's Midnight."

To Be Continued…