A/N: Wow… people reviewed. People read this story. And liked it…There's something wrong with this picture. I can't put my finger on it but something is… You people are just reviewing so I'll post more of these wonderful author notes, aren't you? Well, here's more of the story, whether you wanted to see it or not. Enjoy!

Slayers and Curses

By: Embarr

Chapter 2: Now You Tell Me?

It had been two days since Buffy's fun encounter with the handsome William Turner. She was now strolling down the streets of Port Royal with Estrella, mingling with the midday crowd and trying not to be jostled by anyone. Her attempts were unsuccessful when she was distracted by a question from Estrella though, and as she turned to answer the young handmaid's question she found herself colliding with another body. Buffy managed to catch herself before she made an embarrassing fall to the ground, with the assistance of Estrella's hand on her arm to steady her, but the other person wasn't so lucky. They had been walking by a display of hats at that moment and Buffy looked up to find the amusing scene of a certain tall blacksmith steadying himself on the wall beside the display, modeling a brightly decorated bonnet on his head. Buffy couldn't help but laugh and she heard the light giggle of Estrella beside her.

"I don't think that hat really suits you, Will." This incited more peals of laughter from both girls and a blush from Will to match the small roses that dawned the hat that he was promptly removing from its perch.

"I apologize for running into you, Miss Summers. I wasn't paying attention." The laughter had finally subsided and Buffy gave Will a mirthful smile.

"What's with the Miss Summers? I thought we were friends."

"We hardly know each other. I don't believe you can mark that as a friendship." Buffy's lips thinned as she considered Will for a moment. After a while, she smiled again, but the sternness was obvious in her voice.

"I'm a good judge of people, Will, and I don't sense any badness coming off of you. When I say you are my friend, you're my friend." Buffy stared the man down until he averted his eyes in embarrassment.

"Very well," Will sighed, seeming to give in as if the idea of being someone's friend was new to him. He smiled, slightly, though and Buffy's grin broadened.

"If you'll excuse me, I must be going."

"All right. I guess I'll be seeing you then."

"Yes. Good day… Buffy." The word sounded like it had been dragged out of him, kicking and screaming the entire way.

"See, was that so hard? Good day, Will." Buffy curtsied (that was really starting to bug her), and when Will was swallowed by the crowd she turned once more to Estrella. Estrella's face didn't hide anything. She was confused and staring in disbelief between Buffy and the area Will had disappeared to just moments ago.

"What?"

"You were speaking to Will Turner." Estrella's voice came out as a shocked whisper, as if she feared someone would overhear.

"So?"

"He hardly ever speaks to anyone."

"Which would explain why he's not much of a chatter-box, but is it so strange that I was talking to him?"

"Well, yes," Estrella replied reluctantly. "It's just that… you have only met him once before today and already you are friends? Isn't that a little…"

"Wacky?" Estrella looked at Buffy with confusion. Buffy sighed, preparing herself to explain. "Look Estrella, I'm going to tell you something I once told an old friend of mine… Life's short."

"Life's short?" She seemed to test it on her tongue as if she were tasting wine. "What does that mean?"

"It means that you can't just let life pass you by. For all you know, you could be dead tomorrow." Buffy said it with a cheery tone to her voice but Estrella frowned.

"That sounds rather dreary."

"I know." They continued walking. It was getting late and the crowd was thinning as people returned to their homes or slipped into the pub for a drink before retiring. Everything was still, faint calls of men unloading ships from the docks floating to their ears as they slowly walked down the cobblestone in silence, and they enjoyed the familiar sounds for a short time before continuing their conversation.

"Is that why you wish to leave Port Royal, Anne?"

"What do you mean?" Estrella nudged her friend, smiling knowingly.

"You have rarely spent a coin of what you've earned since you came to the mansion. You must be saving it for something. Do you plan to leave here?"

"Oh, that." They stopped for a moment, away from the few people that were still on the streets. Buffy looked at her friend, carefully forming her words. "I do want to leave Port Royal, Estrella, but for many reasons. It's complicated. I just… I just have certain things I need to do that I can't do here, understand?"

"I understand." Estrella looked sad, like she were already losing Buffy. "You will promise to come back to visit?"

"I promise," Buffy said, warmly smiling and taking her friends hand. "Come on, we need to get back before Mrs. Evens has a fit about us staying out too late." They hurried along; extending their strides but neither seemed too worried about the wrath of Mrs. Evens as they stopped occasionally to watch the sun slowly dip out of existence. They did this in silence until Estrella and Buffy were nearly to the mansion, where Estrella's brow knit in confusion as she turned to Buffy.

"Anne?"

"Yes?"

"Why did Will Turner call you Buffy?" Buffy laughed.

Buffy had never actually met Elizabeth Swann over the year she'd lived in the same household. Most of what she knew about the young woman was what she heard from Estrella. Today though, they were short one handmaid and so Buffy found herself carefully moving up the stairs of the mansion laden with a tray full of breakfast foods. She was to give the governor's daughter her meals in her quarters when Miss Swann didn't eat in the dining room. This was one of those days since Governor Swann was currently out of the house. Buffy was also to do anything that Miss Swann asked her while tending to her for breakfast. Mrs. Evens had made sure to emphasize this part of Buffy's assignment, suggesting with every stern look that if she stepped one toe out of line she'd learn the consequences. The looks didn't scare Buffy though and she just smiled as she took the job.

Buffy knocked once she reached Miss Swann's rooms, shifting the tray easily to one hand. For a moment nothing happened, but Buffy's ears soon picked up the sound of rustling and a drawer being quickly shut. A voice then called, instructing Buffy to enter.

Elizabeth was standing by her bed, dressing rob haphazardly wrapped around her slender body. She was much taller than Buffy and she held herself like the lady that she was breed to be. There was fire in her eyes though, and Buffy found herself easily believing this was the same young woman who used to dream of being a pirate when she was a little girl. Buffy didn't say anything as she moved towards a table set up in the corner to relieve herself of the tray and Elizabeth just watched her blankly. After Buffy had set up the breakfast as she was instructed she stepped back, patiently waiting for Elizabeth to take a seat and begin her breakfast. She did and with a light "thank you" and a nod in Buffy's direction, she delicately worked her way through her food.

As Elizabeth was nibbling on some toast, Buffy cleared her throat.

"Will there be anything else you'll be needing this morning, Miss Swann?" Elizabeth stuffed the rest of the piece of toast into her mouth, much less elegantly as she looked up from her meal. Buffy tried not to smile. Elizabeth was looking at her carefully.

"You usually assist in the kitchens, do you not?"

"Yes, Miss Swann. We're a bit shorthanded this morning and the cooks were glad to be rid of me."

"Why is that?"

"Honestly, Miss Swann? They don't like my cooking, and I personally agree with them." A smile crept to Elizabeth's face and Buffy allowed herself a slight grin too.

"What is your name?"

"Anne Summers."

"You are the one that sailed from London only a year ago." Buffy didn't say anything, merely nodded. It was easier to lie when you didn't have to say anything.

"Tell me, did you encounter any pirates on your journey?" The young woman kept her face indifferent but Buffy saw the interest blazing in her eyes. So, Buffy thought, her interest in pirates hasn't died out as most believe.

"Sorry, I didn't." Elizabeth just smiled, as if to say there was no need for an apology. Buffy couldn't help but smile back. Miss Swann went back to her food and Buffy took the time to glance around the room. It was kind of dark, seeing as the curtains were still closed from the night. A few candles were lit, casting more shadows than light about the room. Buffy decided to test that line Ms. Evens had warned her about.

"Do you mind if I open the curtains? It looks a little dark in here." Elizabeth nodded. Buffy grabbed the heavy cloth and pulled it aside, causing herself to momentarily be blinded by the daylight that shined in through the window. When her eyes finally adjusted she looked back at a much brighter version of Miss Swann's room and a Miss Swann herself, still blinking slightly from the sudden change in lighting. Buffy felt a blush creep up from her collar to her cheeks.

"Sorry, didn't realize it was so bright."

"It's quite all right." Elizabeth's eyes had finally adjusted too and she resumed her breakfast as Buffy went about the room, blowing out the candles. When her task was finished, she looked around the room in satisfaction.

"There, now it looks less like a vampire lives here."

"Vampire?" Buffy didn't realize she'd spoken out loud until Elizabeth's questioning voice broke the silence. She looked over at Miss Swann, who sat there still with the remainder of her breakfast forgotten.

"You're finished? I'll just take this down to the kitchens if there's nothing else…" Her attempt to change the subject was squashed as she glanced at Elizabeth. The girl's eyes held a determination which quickly deflated Buffy's fake cheeriness. She sighed and sat herself in the chair by Elizabeth, forgetting for the moment that she was the servant and Elizabeth was the mistress.

"You've never heard of vampires?"

"No. What are they?"

"They're monsters that look like humans but they're not. When they attack or feed they show what they truly are."

"What do you mean by feed? What they eat."
"Human blood." They were silent for a moment as Elizabeth processed this information.

"That sounds dreadful."

"It's supposed to." Buffy replied, standing up quickly. "I'm forgetting my duties though, so unless you require anything else then I'll be taking this tray back down to the kitchen."

"Do vampires exist? I've never heard of such a creature before." Buffy considered her for a moment.

"You've really never heard of vampires before." Elizabeth's posture became awkward as she shifted in her chair uncomfortably.

"Life as the governor's daughter is rather… sheltered. Are stories of vampires very common?"

"I thought they were, but perhaps I was wrong."

"I suppose it's ridiculous to think that some monster is out there at night, drinking blood. I would have certainly heard about such a death from my father, and no one would dare walk the streets at night if they were real." Buffy shrugged.

"Who really walks the streets at night," Buffy said jokingly, while thinking of the answer in her mind. "It's dark and all the shops are closed. No fun, just plain silly." Buffy found Elizabeth watching her carefully and she awkwardly cleared her throat.

"Is there anything else you need, Miss Swann?" Elizabeth took the hint that the discussion was over and instructed Buffy to retrieve a brush from her nightstand before she could leave. Buffy obeyed and quickly moved to get it so she could get back to her regular duties. The conversation had brought some thoughts she'd squashed long ago back up to the front and she wanted to think upon them more. As her fingers curled around the handle of the brush though, Buffy found all thoughts dropping from existence as her senses went on full alert. An image flashed before Buffy's widened eyes and she nearly dropped the brush in surprise. As soon as the image had appeared, it was gone and so were the feelings that had exploded through her body. She failed to bring the picture back to her memory and couldn't decide what triggered the sudden shock to her slayer senses.

She looked down at the brush that hung from her weak grasp. The feeling hadn't come from that, and it wasn't coming from anything around her anymore for that matter. Whatever it was, she had a feeling it meant to do that; like it wanted its presence known. Buffy decided she needed to get out of their quickly. She ignored the concerned questions Elizabeth asked her as she distractedly handed the girl her brush and then grabbed the tray, not caring that some of its contents spilled on her sleeve. Her blood was boiling, pounding in her ears as she stormed down the hall and into the kitchen. The cook yelled something rude when Buffy set the tray in her working space, but Buffy just kept moving through the kitchen and out the door.

Her feet carried her unconsciously to the place she always went to think. It had been where she was found, and she'd always hoped that she'd find answers by going back there. She had yet to find any, but it didn't keep her from coming there. Buffy looked out at the sea and for a moment was calmed by the gentle waves and salty breeze that came with it. It reminded her of the times she'd go to the beach with Willow and Xander and they'd laugh at Xander's cheesy jokes while they enjoyed the peace of the moment.

That's when the reality of her situation came crashing back down on her and the anger welled and confusion welled up again. She looked up at the sky, full of clouds and the early morning light. It was a beautiful morning but Buffy didn't notice it.

"Why are you doing this to me?" She yelled. When nothing replied except a gust of wind, she let out a strangled cry and continued. "You dropped me here with no warning or anything for an entire year and then I get this flashy thing out of nowhere! What am I supposed to do? Answer me!" Buffy picked up stone from the ground, angrily throwing it at the sky. It didn't reach its intended victims, rather arching high into the atmosphere and then coming down to land far off shore.

"Slayer." Buffy whirled around, eyes narrowed and crouched. She looked like a raging lioness and the balance demon that had caught her attention regretted being the focus of her at the moment.

"Whistler." The word came out as a hiss and the balance demon winced.

"So you remember me."

"Start talking."

"No hello?"

"Hell no, I want explanations." Whistler sighed leaning against a tree. He hid the fear he was currently feeling and stared the seething slayer in the eyes as he answered her.

"I'm here to tell you that there won't be any explanations."

"What?" Buffy bit out the word with as much venom as possible. Whistler winced at the sound, but didn't move from his casual position.

"There's nothing really to tell that you don't already know." The slayers eyes narrowed even further.

"You mean the Powers are just going to plop me here on my ass with no idea of what I'm supposed to do."

"I didn't say that." The balance demon sighed again. "Honestly, Slayer, the Powers had no say in you being here."

"What?" The anger was gone from Buffy, suddenly drained by Whistler's words. In its place came confusion, and fear.

"Someone sent you here, Slayer, but it most definitely wasn't the Powers." So that's how it was, Buffy thought. Someone else was screwing with her life and she had no say in the matter. And they were choosing to leave her up to her own devices while they watched from where it was safe… typical.

"Who and what sent me here then." To this Whistler frowned. He straighten himself and began to retreat into the trees as he replied.

"That I know and cannot tell you. Good luck, Slayer." He was gone. Buffy stared at where he disappeared with disbelief and frustration. They were really going to leave her alone; with no friends and no help, she was going to face whatever baddy was coming her way. Well, she wasn't going to take this lying down, she decided.

"You play dirty, I play dirty," she said under her breathe as she hurried down the shore. It was time she did a little screwing with her new fate.

A/N: Wow, I wrote this chapter down before typing it up and it looks very different from what I started off with. I just hope those changes were good changes and not sucky ones. Please review. I've already gotten some good reviews and good reviews always make me happy and eager to write.