BTVS BTVS BTVS BTVS
Willow landed on dry grass and pointy sticks with an oomph. She rolled over, blowing strands of hair from her face, and heaved herself to her feet.
"Will?! What are you doing here?"
She turned to see Buffy and Spike jogging toward her. Xander and Anya weren't far behind. Anya's pair of rollerskates were tucked under Xander's armpit as his girlfriend sulked beside him in her socks.
"Where's Dawn?" Was the first thing Willow asked.
Buffy's face went pale. "What do you mean where's Dawn?"
"It wasn't Giles' fault!" Willow said quickly.
"What do you mean it wasn't Giles' fault?!"
"We couldn't stop her! She just-she just jumped into the portal!"
"Oh, I'm going to kill her!" Buffy cried, her face reddening. "Dawn!" She shouted, hazel eyes searching as she stomped through the woods. "Where are you?!"
"Here." A muffled voice came from her right.
Dawn had landed face first on the ground and apparently hadn't made any effort to get up. Buffy's eyes narrowed as she angrily made her way toward her. Spike got there first, pulling her sister to her feet.
"Easy, Slayer."
"Move, Spike." She deadpanned. He tapped his boot rapidly against the ground, staring at her expectantly. She sighed, "I won't kill her."
"That's m' girl." He beamed and stepped aside.
"What the hell were you thinking?!"
"I couldn't stay behind." Dawn said quietly.
"You're bleeding." Buffy said sharply, reaching out to touch her cheek.
"It doesn't even hurt." Dawn swatted her hand away.
"I ordered you to stay!"
"Forgive me, your highness!" Dawn retorted sarcastically. Her eyes softened at Buffy's hurt expression. "Look, Buffy. I'm sorry! I just want to help!"
"You're gonna get hurt."
"I am not."
"Yes, you are!"
"I can take care of myself!"
"You're still a kid!"
"I'm a teenager!"
"God, Dawn, can't you try to understand that I'm doing this for your own safety?"
"Sorry to interrupt your bickering." Anya cut in, ignoring Xander's sharp look. "But we really should get going."
Buffy turned to glare at her and she flinched away.
Spike snickered, leaning against the trunk of one of the many trees that surrounded them.
"Calm down, Buff." Xander said nervously.
Buffy closed her eyes and took deep breaths before running a hand through her hair and muttering, "We might as well look around. Try to find someone who can tell us where the hell we are."
"I can't go anywhere." Spike declared, arms crossed.
"Why not?!"
"The sun's still out." He pointed up. A small stream of sunlight was pouring through a gap weaving among the pattern of tall trees.
"Spike, we can't waste any more time!"
"Well it's not my bloody fault!"
Buffy dropped her face into her hands and drew in a long breath. "Maybe you should stay here. Yeah, you should. With Dawn. We'll come get you later."
Spike rubbed the back of his neck and squinted. "Ya' know what? I think I'll manage."
Buffy shrugged. "Suit yourself." Turning on her heels, she laced her arm through Willow's and the Scooby Gang carefully made their way deeper into the woods.
TVD TVD TVD TVD TVD
When Bonnie's eyes finally fluttered open, she blinked a few times in confusion and sat up. Once she saw the light lilac walls and creamy curtains that surrounded her, she realized she was back in her room at the Boarding House. Well, it had been a guest room but considering how much time she, Elena, Meredith, and Matt spent there, it was like their second home.
"Infine." A velvety voice breathed from her right.
She turned to find Damon staring at her intently.
"What happened?" Bonnie murmured, massaging her temples as she felt the beginning of the headache that always followed a trance.
"You tranced." Damon said, handing her a glass of water. "Said something about a Slayer."
She took a small drink of her water and stared up at him questioningly.
"I've never heard of a Slayer. But we'll know what it is soon."
"That's a little weird, don't you think?"
"What is?"
"I mean, you've lived so long, centuries. You've been all around the world, you've met all kinds of supernatural creatures. Yet you don't know anything about this Slayer."
"It is sort of strano." A beat. "I'll let you change now."
Bonnie almost gasped when she remembered what she was wearing. She brought her hands to her chest and tugged on the towel just to make sure it was still there. She could feel her face heating up. Damon chuckled as she pulled open the closet, grabbed the first clothes she saw, and raced into the bathroom.
Five minutes later the bathroom door opened and Bonnie came out, patting her now dry hair into place. She was surprised to see Damon laying there on her bed, staring up at the ceiling as if it were the most interesting thing in the world.
"Thank you." Bonnie clasped her hands together, glancing at him shyly through long lashes.
"For what?" He half smiled, standing up.
"For being here. For waiting for me." A light blush crept up the redhead's neck, and she discreetly brushed her curls to cover it.
Damon didn't say anything. Instead, bending his head down to lightly brush his lips across her cheek. Suddenly he straightened, stiffening and narrowing his dark eyes with a low growl. Bonnie gripped his hands, eyes wide.
"What is it? Damon?"
"We have guests."
xxx
"Have you found something?" Elena asked. She leaned over Matt's shoulder and peered at the dusty book he was flipping through.
"No." Matt replied with a shake of his head.
"And you, Merry?" Elena called, tapping her nails against the back of the leather loveseat impatiently.
"Nothing." Meredith sighed, carefully setting Mrs. Flower's old books down on the glass coffee table.
Elena let out a long breath, rubbing her tired eyes.
"Don't worry, love." Stefan coaxed, emerging from the kitchen.
Mrs. Flowers followed, holding two steaming mugs. Stefan wrapped his arms around Elena's waist and kissed her cheek gently before placing a light blue mug in her hands. Mrs. Flowers did the same, handing Meredith and Matt their own mug of tea.
"Drink up, darlings." Mrs. Flower said with a smile and a wink. "It'll help you relax."
"Thank you." The three teenagers replied simultaneously, sipping the hot drink gratefully.
"Is Bonnie awake yet?" Elena whispered to Stefan.
His leaf green eyes trailed up to the ceiling as he listened carefully. Moments later, he perked up and smiled. "Yes. Damon's with her."
"Damon?" Elena repeated, a mix of panic and jealousy flashing in her lapiz-lazuli eyes before her face smoothed out again and she just nodded and chewed on her lip.
A pang went through Stefan. So she still had feelings for his older brother. He turned, pretending not to notice and said, "We should take a break."
Meredith ran a hand through her dark hair, responding, "Stefan, this isn't normal. We should have found something by now."
"We've looked everywhere." Stefan agreed. "I don't understand why."
"Yes, yes. We've gone through every book I own.." Mrs. Flowers suddenly murmured. Her warm brown eyes were thoughtful as she stared at nothing in particular.
The teenagers and the vampire patiently waited for her to finish, drinking from their mugs and chatting quietly amogst themselves.
"Slayer, yes...I'm not sure...I don't know what it is...She...That's what she said...That's a possibility..." Mrs. Flowers muttered for a little while longer before she turned her attention back to them, her eyes sharp and focused again. "Mama doesn't know any more about this than we do. But she agrees with Meredith. This is unusual. Mama knows a lot about supernatural beings and she's never once heard anything about a Slayer. She did point something out, though."
"What did she say?" Elena pressed.
"Meredith, dear?" said Mrs. Flowers as she settled back into a couch.
At the mention of her name, Meredith's gray eyes shot up. "Yes, Mrs. Flowers?"
"You're a vampire hunter."
"Yes." Meredith nodded, raising an eyebrow in perplexion.
"Your job is to..." Mrs. Flowers' voice trailed off and she pursed her thin lips together as she carefully considered her wording.
"Hunt vampires." Meredith finished bluntly for her. "Stake them. Kill them." Her eyes met Stefan's for a mere second-a silent apology.
"Exactly." Mrs. Flowers continued, wounding her hands together. "Mama thinks a Slayer might be something similar."
"It makes sense. 'Slay' does mean to assassinate." Matt reasoned, blue eyes thoughtful.
"This isn't good..." Elena whispered, automatically reaching out for Stefan's hand.
"It's only a theory, dear." Mrs. Flowers reminded her. "Though there is one thing Mama is sure of. She is not part of our supernatural world."
"She?" Meredith repeated.
"That's what Bonnie called the Slayer." Matt explained.
"She's not from the Dark Dimension?" questioned Elena.
Mrs. Flowers shook her head.
Just then, Damon and Bonnie came racing down the stairs, hand in hand.
"What's wrong?" Stefan demanded when he saw the apprehensive look on his brother's face.
"Lei รจ qui!"
"What'd he say?" Elena cried in panic when she saw her boyfriend's green eyes widen.
"The Slayer." snarled Stefan.
"Oh my.." Mrs. Flowers murmured uneasily. "I was distracted. I should have seen her coming."
Three raps on the door had them all jumping to their feet, eyeing each other warily.
"If Mrs. Flowers' theory is true.." Elena's voice cracked.
A louder series of knocks startled them, an annoyed female voice yelling. "I know someone's in there! Open the door!"
Before anyone had a chance to stop her, Meredith pushed past her friends and swung the door open, peering outside with sharp, menacing eyes.
A/N: Thanks to my reviewers :) I hope you enjoyed this chapter and don't worry, the action will start soon. Don't forget to leave a comment telling me what you think.
Disclaimer; I don't own the Vampire Diaries or Buffy the Vampire Slayer.