Anne backed up to the book shelf, a terrified look upon her face. She had heard the stories but never believed them. What was the point in listening to something that was very likely untrue. But now she believed. She thought back, trying to remember the details. She remembered one story of a beautiful young girl who was drained of blood in a cottage just outside of London… Was that what her dreams were telling her? That her blood would soon - Anne shook her head. No. She would not think that way. "What do you want with me?" Anne all but spat at her governess.

Eliza was taken aback. Anne had her fair share of attitude and sass, but she had never spoken that way to Eliza before. Nor had she ever looked so scared. "It's you're calling, Nan. I wish it weren't this way, but I can't change what is."

Anne glared at Eliza. "My calling? My calling is to have my body drained of blood while you go back to my home… my God, George! Mary!" Tears started streaming down her face. She had to survive. She just had to.

Eliza bit her lip, clearly she had gone about this all wrong. She rushed to Anne, and tried to wrap her tightly in her arms, but Anne evaded her embrace. She tried to explain. "No, no Anne! Listen to me. I have no intention of harming you. Do you hear me? Your calling is -" Eliza closed her eyes and began reciting, "In every generation there is a Chosen One. She alone will stand against the vampires, the demons, and the forces of darkness. She is the Slayer." Opening her eyes, she still saw fear in her slayer's eyes. Could she even call Anne that yet? It wasn't certain that Eliza would even be her watcher.

Suddenly a coldness overtook Anne's fear. She glared at her governess. "How dare you, Elizabeth Giles, how dare you treat me so cruelly," Anne walked right past Miss Giles to her horse. She had every intention of speaking with her father, immediately. She was a proud young woman, and Anne was not going to take what she perceived as being taken advantage of lying down. Miss Giles would be dismissed before the end of the day if Anne had her way. She was outgrowing a governess, anyway.

A million thoughts raced through Eliza's mind. It never occurred to her that the slayer wouldn't believe. It never occurred to her that things could start so poorly either, and yet Anne was in hysterics. But right now was not the time she could worry about those. Right now, she had to race after Anne, before she could mount and take off. No one was quite sure why, but in most cases, right after the slayer was told about her curse she would be plagued by demons. Anne, as capable as she was, would not be able to take on half of these creatures until she truly knew what she was. And so she raced out of the cottage and caught Anne as she was untying the knot in the reins. "Anne, have I ever lied to you?" she posed the question quickly, grabbing Anne's wrist. The darker haired woman pulled away from her and raised her hand in an attempt to slap her elder, but Eliza was faster than that. "Lady Anne Boleyn, I have raised you better than to slap your elders."Eliza said clearly, there was no room to argue.

Anne folded her arms and glared, and stubbornly admitted, "No." One word answers were all she planned on giving to the woman who she not so long ago considered a mother. She deserved nothing better. Practical jokes were for children, not for young women. It was unheard of for a governess to pull one on Anne, especially when Anne was so clearly upset the night before.

"Then answer me this, Anne. Why would I lie to you now, especially considering the circumstances." Eliza's brown eyes searched Anne's grey ones for any trace of trust. She had kept so much to herself, but she never truly lied to any of the Boleyn children. A small smile tugged at the corners of Eliza's mouth, but her self control kept it from becoming so. Anne's jaw had dropped.

The young woman quickly recomposed herself, but still glared. "You have an hour, Mistress Giles. Explain yourself." That was all she felt her governess — her former governess deserved.

Eliza lead Anne back into the cottage and seated her in one of the chairs. She grabbed two books, one that detailed the history of slayers, and one that detailed Anne's new duties. She sat down and began explaining.

"As I said before, 'In every generation there is a Chosen One. She alone will stand against the vampires, the demons, and the forces of darkness. She is the Slayer.'

"Each slayer has a watcher, generally the watcher is the one who discovers that particular slayer. Sometimes it changes but generally, being a watcher is a life time commitment. If the Watcher's Council is agreeable, I will become your watcher.

"The last slayer was watched by a dear friend of mine, John Pryce. For a new slayer to be called, the former slayer must pass on." Perhaps it wasn't the kindest way to put it, but Elizabeth had no intention of being so vague again.

"These are two books that could help you to understand your new place in this world."

Anne gently caressed the covers of the first book. The one that had originally scared her so badly. Vampyr. That wasn't, of course, how it was spelled normally. Vampire, she mentally corrected. Part of her wanted to believe, it would help her understand why she was so different from Mary, or any of the other girls she met. "Why me, Eliza?" was all she was capable of asking, not even sure if she wanted to hear the answer.

Eliza frowned. It was a question she didn't know the answer to, one that she desperately wanted to be able to answer. "Oh, Anne. The one question I can't answer for you." She thought for a few moments, as the two sat in silence. Anne picked up the book she had first seen and began reading it. The hour passed quickly.

It would take more than a few words in a book to change Anne's mind, though. She loved her governess, but she couldn't believe her when she said it was Anne's duty to slay demons. That should fall under man's work, she was certain. And even if she was capable, no man in his right mind would allow her. So of course she asked, "Why is this a field women dominate in? Killing isn't something women do…. Men fight battles." Her logic was clear, to Anne at least.

Eliza sighed. "Men can be too easily corrupted by power and strength. Women are less likely to go rogue. The curse, or the blessing however you wish to see it chooses the person. It's not something I could control, or I would have ensured you never had to deal with such a fate, Annie."

Anne tried to allow that to sink in. It made sense. Women were supposed to be virtuous. But Anne could not claim to be a saint. She knew herself to be hard headed, a bit selfish, and somewhat manipulative. Before she even had to ask her question, Eliza had an answer. "The curse makes you more sinful, in order for you to have the ability to fight those more sinful than you. You have a moral code, Annie. A strict one, by the looks of it. You won't allow those you love get hurt."

Liza was keeping a watchful eye on the sun. She promised George and Mary she would be back by the afternoon, and it was approaching noon already. She did not wish to rush Anne, but for the sake of secrecy she felt she had no other choice. "I know you have questions, Annie, and I will answer them. But you cannot tell a soul what I have told you. You also must be more careful than you are used to, do you understand?"

Anne nodded. Together they walked back to their horses, this time more amiably than the lost. They mounted and rode back to Hever Castle.