Edinburgh, Scotland 1972
From where he stood, at the heavy iron gate blocking the stairs down into Mary King's close, the smell of mildew and rot was unmistakable. It seemed that even after being abandoned for over a century the voices of the plague victims carried on the wind coaxing him to come down to them. He lifted the lock, it was heavy, but old fashioned. He could break it.
"effrego obfirmo…" he whispered "…permissium is cado"
Beneath the tips of his fingers the lock began to rattle, and then the latch popped open, a little puff of rust colored dust flew out indicating how long it had been since anyone living had dared to enter down into the haunted street. He pulled the chains apart and unceremoniously threw the down at his feet. The gate door swung loose creaking slowly.
He stood silently looking down into the dark stairway his hand firmly on the gate. There was a moment of apprehension gripping him, some preternatural warning sign that below there was no one alive, but that did not mean he would be alone. He swallowed hard and took a final drag from the cigarette clenched in his other hand.
"Rupert" a voice came from behind him barely perceptible "Just what the bloody the hell do you think you are doing?"
"I'm going for a stroll down the street," He said without turning around "care to join me?"
"Going for a stroll are you…down the most haunted alley in all of Scotland?"
He didn't answer. She could go to hell for all he cared. How did she find him here anyway?
"Do you have any idea what is down that hole Rupert? There is a reason people chain places up and forget about them." She said.
"No," he said "But I know I'm strong enough to fight whatever is down there"
"You are a gifted witch Rupert, of that I have no question, but you are young and you don't have control over your powers yet."
"Stop telling me that" he breathed "I'm not a child, Virginia"
Rupert opened the gate. A cold blast of air blew over him as if it had been held in the ally for all this time. He shuddered briefly. Then, the feeling of wild anger over took him, as he was grabbed forcefully by the collar of his leather jacket. She had taken him and thrown his back up against the gate. His teacher was stronger then he had ever supposed. He jerked his shoulders to be free of her and she released him.
"Why are you doing this?" She demanded "Why do you insist on hurting yourself!"
He stepped towards her putting his face very close to hers.
"Maybe I'm trying to go somewhere that you won't follow me with your incessant bullocks about my duties to the bloody Watchers council." He nearly spat.
"Right then," Virginia said not backing away from him, "Go on then, go down there!" She shoved him so hard he almost fell down, he grabbed the door of the gate.
"What..?" he said a little stupidly while catching his balance.
"I'm sure what ever is down there is just waiting for an ignorant power charged little warlock like you to stumble into it's clutches." She shoved him again, this time through the gateway, he fell down hard onto the cold stone. "They'd love to just suck you dry, or use your power to re-open the Hellmouth, won't that be lovely?"
She approached and kicked him over as he struggled to stand up.
"Enough!" he shouted
Virginia grabbed him and lifted him onto his feet, pinning him against the ally wall. Her green eyes were blazing with anger, even in the dim light of the abandoned street he could see her staring directly into him.
"This isn't just about you Rupert, there are darker forces at work in this world then you can possibly imagine and I am sick of chasing all over Britain after a petulant brat child who can't see the bigger picture. So go on with you then!" with a great show of strength she spun him off the ground and threw him over her shoulder down the stairs leading to the entrance. When he landed at the bottom there was a loud snapping noise and white hot pain shot through his left arm.
Rupert cried out in agony curling himself into a ball, cradling his broken arm against his chest. His whole brain buzzed like a hive filled with the sense of his injury. He barely heard Virginia close the creaking iron gate and snap the lock
"Virginia!" he called his voice ragged with anger and desperation
"Maybe if you see what truly goes bump in the night you'll come to your senses about staying with the council."
"Virginia! Don't do this!" He shouted up to her, the sound of his voice bouncing back against the stone.
"If you manage to escape this place with your life, then you know where I am. I am not coming after you any longer Mr. Giles" She turned and walked away, her silhouette disappearing from view, leaving him locked down at the entrance to Mary King's close with his arm badly broken. The sun's last blueish purple light was withdrawing quickly from the corners and the shadows grew around him. Night was now bringing on a whole new breed of fear and as he struggled to stand Rupert Giles could think of nothing more then his absolute hate for Virginia Kensington.