Disclaimer: Don't own and never will. Written in boredom and the spirit of all that is lovely of BtVS, Giles, and Jenny.

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June 2004

No one would have known a little town once stood here. The crater was in the middle of the desert and looked like it had been there for hundreds of years. It was easily 2 miles wide. It had only been a year since the town collapsed and everything was destroyed.

It was midnight now in that barren place. Debris had mostly rotted away; only the stone and brick of the buildings remained. Dust covered everything. Remarkably a single shadow moved through the bottom, flat surface. The full moon illuminated its way. The figure was tall and very thin. It gave off an air of being fragile, but its walk was steady and sure. It wore a blue cloak that hid its visage. It held a bundle of items. It wandered around for several minutes before it stopped suddenly. It placed the bundle on the ground and scattered the contents. It took several candles and formed a circle around itself. Lighting them, it then sat down in the middle. It took a bottle filled with a dark substance in its hand and poured it on the ground in front of itself.

Chanting began and filled the still night. The voice issuing from the figure was cold and slightly horse. The liquid began to move as if with the melody of the figure's voice. It slithered outside of the circle and then it separated into two distinct forms. They went separate ways but met at the end of the form they created. It was an outline of a body. The liquid seeped into the dirt and only the stain of the substance remained. The chanting became faster and more frantic. The figure raised its arms as it screamed piercingly into the night. The candles flared and extinguished. It was silent. Only the air seemed tense. The figure rose to its knees and slumped forward slightly, catching itself with one hand, keeping itself upright. After several minutes a slight thumping sound was vaguely heard. The figure let out a shaky breath and stood up. The earth that was within the outline of the liquid started to shift slightly. A small mound rose up. Fingertips broke through the earth and soon a hand followed. It waved frantically, trying to find any grip. Another hand shot out from the ground. The figure stepped out of the circle and grasped both wrists and pulled. Dirt flew everywhere as the figure pulled the woman out. She was small compared to the figure. Her dark hair was in disarray and her clothes were torn. She took great gulping gasps of air. Her eyes were wide in fear and confusion. She winced as the figure took her hands. They were bleeding. A couple of her nails were missing or half ripped out. Her knuckles were spilt and raw. She looked up into the figure's face and still did not show any other emotion. She tried to speak but only had a coughing fit, doubling over. The figure caught her before she fell over.

"Shhh," the figure said quietly while patting the woman's back. "There will be time enough to talk… Janna."

June 2003

"Buffy, I need to speak to you about the new Council."

She sat on a plain wooden chair looking out the window. It was raining and cold, but still she only wore a halter top and shorts. Her skin was pale and not at all close to the golden tan that she had in California. She did not turn her head when she finally spoke.

"We aren't talking about it. I could care less about a council."

"Buffy, we all have this responsibility to bare now. You must understand they look to you as their leader. Dawn has gone off to school in Oxford so you don't have to worry about her. She'll be fine."

"I'm not worried. She can take care of herself."

"Then what is it? I don't understand--."

"That's the problem. You haven't understood in a while, Giles. I quit. I mean it this time. You have no use for me… and I don't need you anymore. I'll only help if no one else can. I doubt we'll have another dire evil like the First… Now get out."

That was the last time he had seen her. She never once turned to look at him.

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December 2004

"Why does it have to be so fucking cold in London?" a young brunette woman complained. She was an American bundled head to toe in winter wear.

"It isn't that cold, Faith. Now keep quiet. We're almost to the flat," her companion replied. He was an older gentleman; definitely British by his accent and dress. While Faith looked like the poor college student, the man radiated refinement.

"I still can't see why I have to tag along, G. You know she hates me… more now that she thinks I stole her Watcher."

"She doesn't hate you. Buffy just…" the man sighed, unable to respond.

"See, Giles! You know it's true. It's like putting two pit bulls into a ring," exclaimed Faith.

"Buffy has been alone for far too long. I doubt she even trusts Willow at the moment. I need both of you for our next assignment."

"I have to work with her?! No, G., I fly solo. You know she's not going to agree to that either. What the hell kind of assignment is it any way that makes you get out your best guns, eh?"

Giles smirked at her, while tugging his scarf loose.

"You'll find out when we reach her flat."

After a block, they walked up to a non-descript building and to the barred door. There was a small call box next to it; Giles pressed the button next to the name "Summers, Buffy."

"Who is it?" a female voice asked.

"It's Giles. Please, Buffy, I need to speak with you."

The buzzer sounded, signaling the front door opening. They entered the building's lobby and proceeded to take the stairs to the fourth floor. Buffy's apartment was the last one on the left. Giles knocked on the door. Faith stood out of the eye-hole's sight. They exchanged a quick look. The door opened slightly, a blue eye peeking through.

"Hello, Buffy," Giles smiled warmly at her. She didn't return it. She opened the door further and motioned for him to enter. Her eyes narrowed as she finally saw Faith, but she did not try to stop her from coming in.

"So what's so important that you have to bring your personal bodyguard?"

"Ouch, Buff, that smarted."

"Girls," Giles snapped. "This is very important."

The Slayers gave each other cold looks before seating themselves at opposite ends of the small living room. Faith noticed Giles had sat nearer to Buffy. Buffy sat Indian-style with her arms crossed, her face showing no emotion. At least this time she was wearing proper winter clothing. She was in jeans and a turtleneck. She looked much better than the last time Giles had seen her.

"Now then," started Giles. "It has come to my attention that slayers are slowly disappearing and their mutilated bodies being found in very public areas months afterwards."

"Vampires or the First's disciples, I'm guessing," said Buffy with all seriousness.

"Vampires," answered Giles. "The likes of which I have only read about and never believed to be true."

"Are they like the Turok-Han?" asked Faith.

"Yes and no. These vampires have the strength and near invulnerability as the Turok-Han, but they resemble modern vampires. Again the only difference is that they are more related to Dracula."

"So always have fangs but no bumps?"

"Precisely. They are as handsome and beautiful as Dracula, also. They call themselves the Nobility, tracing their bloodlines to the first vampire, the Sacred Ancestor."

"Dracula, again, right?"

"Yes. I was able to contact Dracula through Xander but he was only able to tell us that he had sired hundreds of vampires those first hundred years of his reign. In order for him to keep his… status, he had killed off many of them, but there still are about twenty or so out there according to him."

"You didn't happen to have seen the three sisters, too, huh?" asked Buffy, a small smile appearing on her face. It made her resemble her former self.

Giles coughed suddenly and reached for his handkerchief.

"G! You're blushing! Who are these sisters?"

"Oh, they were just three vamp sisters who Riley caught Giles necking with…"

"May I continue?" interrupted Giles.

The girls nodded. The tension in the room had eased considerably. Giles cleaned off his glasses and cleared his throat once more. Maybe there was hope for their relationship? He remembered the way she had looked at him in the doorway. The last time they had talked, she had made it clear that she didn't care to be part of the new Council… or him.

"There. Now these vampires are easily recognized when they appear. They dress in 18th century clothing which rivals anything the royal tailors can make."

"Really taking this Nobility thing far," muttered Faith.

"They consider themselves the aristocracy of the vampires… And by all accounts, they are the oldest and most powerful living."

"Where have they been all this time?"

"Sleeping is what I've been told. They have chosen to skip whole centuries. My theory is that they have been switching off with each other; one sleeping a century, another awakening him or her and taking their place. I have gone through all of my remaining books and there are hardly any mentions of abnormally strong Vampires. They don't need to hunt as often as regular vampires. That has helped them stay hidden."

Buffy and Faith remained silent. Giles sat forward, his elbows perching on his knees.

"I need for you two to find the coven that has settled here. We need to know why they have all awakened and what their plans are for the future."

"They're here?"

"Yes, or at least three of them are with their 'family' according to a slayer who hid herself when they attacked the other slayer she was with. We've had five girls gone missing. The last one was found… Well, one half of her was outside of Westminster Abby, the other at the gates of Parliament."

"Ew, these guys aren't messing."

Buffy stood up. Giles knew that look on her face.

"I'll start at the Abby and see if I can find anything to track them with."

"You aren't going alone, Buffy," Giles said quietly. Buffy looked mutinous.

"It's much too dangerous," he continued. "These vampires have killed five of our best girls and who knows how many other slayers in other parts of the world… That's why I want you to work with Faith, reconnaissance only."

"No."

"Only reconnaissance?" said Faith.

"I am not working with her again. The last time I saw Faith, I was drowning in a swimming pool."

"I apologized for that! I was undercover!"

"Girls! We do not know anything about the Nobility. As you two are the best Slayers I have, you will protect each other when investigating. Do I make myself clear?"

Both girls huffed and had their arms crossed. They stared in opposite directions like petulant children.

"Buffy? Faith?" demanded Giles.

Both gave the other a scathing look before nodding. Giles seemed relieved.

"Good. Now since we're here, would you two like to accompany me to an early dinner?"

Buffy raised her eyebrows and gave him a reluctant smile and a quiet, "okay." Faith smiled and jumped out of her chair.

"Only if you pay, boss. After you," she motioned to Giles.

They walked through the streets, chatting about recent events and gossip within the new slayer ranks. There was a farmer's market going on. People were walking up and down the street, buying their groceries or examining the exotic fair of some of the venders. They walked through the stands of fruit and herbs. The smell of jasmine and vanilla were the most prominent. The slayers walked in front, actually behaving themselves and getting along. Giles was looking around, comparing prices but keeping up with the young women. A merchant was selling monkshood for a bargain so he stopped quickly.

"Buffy, Faith, just a moment."

The girls stood about ten paces in front of him. The merchant gave him the bundle and his receipt. Giles thanked him and turned towards the girls, bumping into someone as he did so.

"So sorry," he mumbled, placing a steadying hand on the petite figure. He froze. The woman's eyes widened but she pulled out of his grip and ran. He followed her; he had to. Vaguely he could hear Buffy and Faith yelling for him behind him, but he couldn't take his eyes off the figure. His purchases fell to the ground, forgotten. They pushed their way through a throng of people. The woman looked over her shoulder once and gained a spurt of speed. She ran into one of the adjacent alleyways and disappeared from his view. Buffy was able to grab him before he entered the alley. Giles tried to wrestle his arm out of her grip, but Buffy held on.

"Giles! Don't you know it's not safe to go into dark alleyways?"

Buffy yanked him back into the crowded street. Most of the people had turned to stare at the commotion, but they turned the other way when they didn't see anything wrong and it became quiet. Faith was taking in the whole crowd, being as vigilant as possible while Buffy kept her focus on the winded man in front of her. Giles was still staring into the darkness. Sweat beaded his brow and curled the hair on the back of his neck.

"Giles!" Buffy shook him hard, his glasses falling to the end of his nose.

He finally looked at her and blinked. He was flushed with exertion and trembling slightly. He straightened his coat.

"It was… but it can't be… no, it was a trick," he mumbled, his eyes unfocused.

Buffy knew she wasn't going to get a straight answer with so many people around. Faith glanced at Buffy with a raised eyebrow.

"Let's get to the bistro. We'll talk there," Buffy said.

She still held one of Giles's arms as they walked. Faith walked behind them, one hand in her jacket, wrapped around her dagger. They reached the bistro within five minutes and were seated in a booth in the back. Buffy ordered a pot of tea for all of them. Giles was still mumbling to himself slightly and had a far-away look in his eyes. Buffy and Faith glanced at each other and then at Giles.

"What happened back there, Giles?" asked Buffy quietly.

Giles looked at her briefly. He swallowed thickly and ran a hand through his hair.

"Y-You wouldn't believe it. I d-don't know what I saw. I don't believe it."

Buffy frowned. Faith remained silent, glancing about the room with a somber expression.

"Well, who do you think you saw? You clearly thought it was someone you knew," Buffy persisted.

Giles looked away from her. Buffy saw that his expression had darkened as he wrung his hands.

"I thought it was Jenny," he almost whispered.