With Buffy's assistance I got myself down from the ceiling without damaging it any more than I already had. When I was on firm ground again Giles asked Buffy to leave the two of us. She tried to question him but he wasn't having any of it. After Buffy vacated the library the Watcher rounded in on me.
"Mr. Blackwater, would you kindly explain just how it is you can move like that?"
This was my moment of truth; for a given value of truth at least.
"Last full moon I performed a Punic naming ritual to claim a familiar to myself... there were some complications that took a while to get used to."
The librarians narrowed his eyes, shifted his position to something more indicative of wariness, and replied.
"I am aware of that ritual, Nick, just as I am aware of its effect. Your abilities do not fall under it."
"That would be the case, unless you use the binding ritual in conjunction with it as well as..."
I let my voice trail off as I saw Giles grow more and more upset until he eventually stalked towards me and grabbed me by the shoulders.
Giles thundered, "You... utterly foolish... CHILD! Can you even phantom the cost you could have ended up paying!"
"I-I... "
"No, of course you can't. What could possibly have possessed you to take such an appalling risk?"
"F-Fear, sir, would."
That was probably the truest thing to ever leave my mouth. I didn't like dwelling on it but Sunnydale filled me no less with terror now than it did the first week I was here. It just wasn't for the reason I was willing to share with the Watcher.
Giles firmly retained his grip on my shoulders but did fractionally soften his body language. I took this as a cue to continue explaining.
"Do you know how long Seers last, Mr. Giles?"
The Watcher flinched and for a fraction of a second averted his gaze from mine.
"How long before something comes along that wants... " I took a deep breath, looked Mr. Giles in the eyes again and continued. "That wants to silence me, subvert my free will or just plain steal my eyes? Or any of the thousands of ways Seers are exploited."
"This is not the way to deal with that, Nick. I underst-... no I do not understand. I won't claim I know what you must be going through young man but what you risked... "
The man trailed off, got a searching look on his face, and pulled me in for hug. I was completely caught by surprise and didn't recover in time to grasp what happened before Giles spoke up again.
"Tell me about the complications."
"I can't keep anything but meat down... I'm hungry all the time and I'm constantly filled with overwhelming energy."
The Watcher was silent for a moment, seemingly breathed a sigh of relief, and gestured for me sit at his desk.
"I'll go make some tea, please have a seat."
When the man left for his office I had some time to process what just happened. On the surface I knew something like this would happen when I came to Giles for training. Just below the surface I decidedly did not expect to feel so... terrible.
For the briefest of moments I tried picturing a world in which I could just tell Giles everything but then my benefactors made themselves known. Intense shivers came over me that shook me straight out of the chair.
The refusal tasted absolutely bitter in my mind. I'm utterly stuck.
I got back in my chair just in time for Giles to walk out with two piping hot cups of tea.
"I'm sorry I lost my composure earlier, Nick."
Damn Giles. Are you trying to kill me with kindness? I tried to speak up but the Watcher forestalled me with a gesture.
"You remind me of someone I knew when I was younger. Those experiences have left me with a particular distaste concerning certain magic's."
The librarian took a sip of his tea and continued, "When I was your age I had a group of friends, close as can be, who maneuvered through the tangled web of magics. Out of all of us only one had a truly compelling reason. The rest... we were simply in it for the power... for the chance to do something grand."
When the man took yet another sip from his tea he seemingly struggled getting the next part out.
"It took the death of another friend to convince me to leave that life behind." Giles looked up and pinned me with a peculiar gaze, "I won't waste mine or your time trying to dissuade you from magic entirely. However, if you are willing, I can share the benefit of my experiences with you."
We were both quiet for a while as we finished our teas.
I eventually spoke up, "I think I would like that, sir."
XxXXxX
June 5th, 1997
The Watcher sent me out to go collect Buffy so we could get started on the actual training. I followed the assorted smells the girl left in the air and short found her sitting on the main stairway with Willow and Xander.
"Hey Buffy, Mr. Giles wants us back in the library."
"Oh! Are you two... you know, done?"
"For the moment, yeah, but now we need to 'stop you from flailing about like a fish on land' and teach me how to fight."
The blond girl started laughing despite her best efforts at keeping the smirk on her face contained.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to laugh."
"It's ok, I totally would have made fun of you."
I saw her arm come up to slap me and valiantly resisted casting a Fortress and simply took my lumps.
"I have no doubt you would."
Xander chose that moment to speak up, "So, Nick. Super-speed huh... what's that like?"
I had to actually consider that before I answered. Despite the drawbacks I was still intensely infatuated with my new speed. I carefully considered how to reply without coming off as a power obsessed maniac.
"It's difficult to put into words, Xander. When I go running full throttle with my puppy chasing me it just feels right. Like there isn't anything in the world but us. It's just... inspiring."
I probably didn't succeed very well.
At that moment Xander turned to Buffy to ask if that was how she felt about her Slayer strength while Willow excitedly demanded to know everything about my puppy.
I instantly went over to ramble mode, "His name is Constantine, he's super grumpy, the most adorable little lab pup you'll ever see and I'm fairly certain he's smarter than half the people I meet."
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*Chapter 022: June 5th, 1997-C*The Bronze was the only 'nightclub' in Sunnydale and it clearly showed. The venue was part coffee shop, part bar, and utterly infected with cockroaches. The assorted smells excreted by throngs of sweaty teenagers didn't make the place any more pleasant to stay either.
"How come you're so quiet Nick?"
"I have problems on my mind, Harmsy."
Her perfunctory slap didn't so much as shake the beer in my hand.
"Wanna talk about it?
I extended an arm and pulled the girl in close, "I was faced with some uncomfortable truths earlier. I think I should work through it on my own, but thanks for offering."
Harmony flashed me one of her sweet smiles and said, "What else are friends for?"
"Buying alcoholic beverages for their underage friends?"
"You still didn't explain how you convinced the bartender to do that!"
"Magic, Harmsy, magic."
Jonathan's obfuscation spell still held strong on my school ID card. Whoever looked it at would see whatever the wearer wanted them to see. I had tried my hand at the spell myself but I simply lacked the aptitude needed for enchantment to make the spell last long enough to be useful.
"That's not an answer!"
"I know. Let's dance!"
The rest of the evening was spent pretending the music wasn't loud enough to shatter my inner ear column. Throughout the night at the Bronze I kept an eye Buffy. I knew tonight was the night she'd be assaulted by the Three, the warrior vamps in service to The Master, as well as the night she starts to fall for Angel.
I just didn't know what to do. If I don't act I'll benefit from leaving the rails of canon reasonably intact... at the cost of risking Angelus coming out to play a year from now. If I did follow Buffy home I might have the chance to inform her of Angel's vampiric nature before he flashes his abs at her.
Eventually I just settled for letting fate handle it. I made my round of goodbyes and convinced Harmony I didn't need a ride home, collected my duster, and went out to find trouble. The niggling thought that this was a manner of choice didn't bother me overmuch.
Sunnydale was after all mostly safer for having Angel around.
Earlier today Buffy had rubbed her vastly superior fighting skill in my face. Admittedly, the girl was entirely justified in doing so, but I did still have advantages over her.
A willingness to use guns for one, the speed and strength needed to jump from building to building, and lastly but certainly not least were my hyperactive senses that wouldn't let anything sneak up on me.
I was on my third encirclement of the Bronze when I smelled the putrid mix of death and blood I'd forever associate with wrongness. My first instinct was to follow the smell straight to the source but thankfully I managed to settle down and think.
Jumping in without a plan would get me hurt. I needed to stalk the vampire, wait until the leech was distracted by its prey, and loose a carved bolt right through the heart. This was all of course much easier said than done.
I stayed high on top of the various warehouses that littered the district the Bronze was in. Eventually I found a way to approach the vamp, whom I could already hear sweet talking a teenaged male, from downwind. I looked down on the pair as the vamp promised the boy it would take care of him if he followed it into the alley.
The young man's cocky reply drifted through the wind, "Are you sure you can handle me?"
The blond vampire replied seductively, "Oh, I think I could surprise you."
I pulled my collapsible crossbow out, untangled the device, and settled in for the snipe. I thought I'd be a lot more nervous but Constantine's familiar presence in the back of my mind settled me. A heartbeat passed, and another, then another.
The vamp was less than fifteen meters away when I loosed my first bolt. Not risking a failure I immediately re-cocked the crossbow and let the second fly, aiming just behind the vamp.
The first bolt embedded itself in the vamps sides and started sizzling. Jonathan's efforts at carving raised crossed into the bolt made the miss feel less like a failure. The bolt did its job as the vamp swiped at it with phenomenal speed, burned its hand as she touched it and was promptly hit with the second bolt in her leg.
I noticed all of this in what felt like the split second between firing the two bolts. The boy seemed to recover from his shock when he saw the vampires' demonic visage and bolted straight out of the alley.
I didn't waste any time, fired another shot at the vampire but missed, re-cocked the crossbow again and fired at the vampire just as it jumped up at me. The bolt struck her in the stomach, unbalanced her landing, and gave me enough time for my plan b.
I dropped the crossbow unceremoniously, twisted my bracelet, and let loose with Heat Death. The surprise on the vampire's face was soon replaced with horror when the red beam went through its neck.
For the first time in my life I was treated to the sight of a vampire burning from the inside out. The momentary flash of the skeleton as it expired in the puff of ash was something that would never fail to bring a smile to my face.
I had officially made my first kill and the sheer triumph I felt was exhilarating!
I picked up the crossbow, reloaded it completely, and jumped down to the alley to scavenge my other bolts. Those that managed to survive the vampire's combustion. As I grabbed for the last bolt I heard delicate footsteps and I exploded in the flurry of speed back on top the building. I kept running as I heard the footsteps follow me, jumped to the next building and twisted midair, and aimed my crossbow at the shadow following me.
I fired twice in quick succession when I finally noticed I was shooting at the unfairly handsome face of David Boreanaz. The vampire neatly sidestepped the first bolt but the second, which admittedly went wide, snagged him in the upper arm.
The ensouled vampire reached for the bolt; frowned in surprise when it burned his hand but apparently worked through the pain as he expelled the foreign object from his arm. Angel made no move to jump over from the building he was on to mine and settled into starting at me with his hands crossed.
Eventually he spoke up, "Nice show back there but isn't it past your bedtime?"
I grinned my toothiest grin and replied, "I don't know Liam. You tell me!"
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*Chapter 023: June 5th, 1997-D*The brooding vampire demonstrated handily that after two centuries of roaming the earth very little ruffled him.
"I haven't gone by that name in long time, Nick."
I guess my feeling that Buffy would tell her mysteriously pale sidekick about me was true. I wasn't exactly upset, the girl didn't know he was a vamp, but I couldn't say I was entirely pleased it. The smug look on his face when he took note of expression might have sparked my desire to erase it.
"Too fond of the derivative your syphilitic sire branded you with?"
Operation un-smuggify-Angel was a stunning success.
"You really are as annoying as Buffy said you were."
"I'll take that as a compliment but let's cut the bickering. Are you here to help Buffy survive the Three?"
The shell of man seemed to consider that for a moment before he spoke up again.
"I am; will you be getting in way?"
The facsimile of a man was as direct with me as he was mysterious with Buffy.
"I wouldn't dream to stand in the way of your redemption." I waited a brief moment and continued, "I mean that Liam. This world; and Buffy in particular, are going to need you."
I could tell that finally reached the fanged man but instead of replying he rushed across the building, jumped and landed in front of me. The moment I noticed him moving I fired off a Fortress and tried my best to not flinch.
"What do you know about that?"
"I have my sources, Liam. My... for lack of better word visions... don't just show me a single future... " I trailed off letting the man draw his own conclusions.
"Is that supposed to mean something to me?"
Well, that nixed that hope. I guess we'll have to this the awkward way.
I sighed theatrically and replied, "We don't know each other well enough to go into specifics about the big picture, yet."
"Look, kid. I've had enough with the hints and vague messages to last me a life time."
The sheer irony of Angel saying this while he's playing the brooding anti-hero with the Slayer almost got through the veneer of control I had over my amusement. The only thing stopping me from outright laughing is the fact that I didn't want to alienate Angel too far. Sure, I wasn't averse to pushing the man, but if I pretend to be different to Angel while being a dick to Buffy... well I just couldn't justify that to myself.
I knew Whistler wouldn't set foot in Sunnydale for at least another two years. Whether or not I should take advantage of this was the main question on my mind. Unfortunately I already played the seer card.
"Alright. I could tell you something relatively small. Like the state and security of your soul. I don't know whether you'd give any credence to my words though."
"Fair point but do tell me regardless."
"The Kaldarash Gypsy Clan you upset in your wilder days left a loophole in the soul curse. Please note the part where they explicitly called it a curse."
The heroic vampire didn't reply but gestured for me to continue.
"They weren't, still aren't, interested in justice, the good you might do or any form of redemption. The curse has a singular intention. To cause you suffering, to ensure you do not experience a single moment of happiness. It's the vehicle of their Vengeance and trust me when I say they make the Sicilians look like children."
"You're not telling me anything I don't know, Nick."
"This will be; when you do find happiness what do you think would happen to the soul? What would cause you the most suffering?"
The cherubic faced vampire was so still he might as well have been a statue. I wasn't entirely heartless and I did sympathize with the man. That didn't mean I was going to forget how eagerly he embraced being a vampire, even as Liam. After more than a minute passed the vampire finally spoke up.
"They wouldn't be that stupid... "
"I'm afraid they are, in fact, that stupid. They may actually be more idiotic then that. The clan sent a representative here to keep an eye on you. They failed to impress upon them the circumstances of the curse. I wouldn't trust them to... well with anything."
The vampire took a step towards me, "What do you hope to gain from this?"
"You're not the only one sent a mission, Liam."
"Did Whistler put you up to this?"
"Whistler is the spawn of a pureblood demon and a Higher Being. I don't trust Whistler but I do admit he has his uses."
"And if I was to ask him about you?"
"I doubt he'd know me but I'm sure he'd be interested. Are you going to tattle on me?"
"You haven't exactly given me a reason not to."
"Whistler hasn't given you a reason to trust him either; unless you count him pointing you towards Buffy of course."
"You're using a lot of words to say nothing, Nick."
"It is what it is, Liam. One last thing, because we do need to able to work together, I know how to avert the prophecy about the Master. I obviously can't share it, or risk fucking it up, but the one thing you and I have in common is wanting to keep Buffy alive. Do you feel we could work together on that front?"
"Tell me what you are."
Interesting. The leech either noticed something off with my smell or the oddity of seeing a teenage boy jumping around is just too obvious. Regardless, I managed to avert the conversation from my goals.
"Not to toot my own horn... but I'm an entirely human but fairly gifted blood mage, Liam. Not many people know that, I would appreciate it if you keep that to yourself."
"You mean keep it from Buffy?"
"Some things are personal, Liam. I imagine you aren't too keen to share the events that transpired in the Hyperion hotel in the 50s with her. And no... I'm not blackmailing you... just asking for a concession."
The angel faced vampire sighed and said, "Fair enough."
"All right then! Last to find Buffy gets to explain why we're following her."
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*Chapter 024: June 5th, 1997-E*We must have made an odd sight, our mad dash across the rooftops, to casual observers. Fortunately this is Sunnydale and nobody would give it a second thought. The strength of the Masquerade reminded me of several of those old television shows that featured strange paranormal events which are solved by children. Events that would be promptly ignored the next by the parents of the children involved. Every episode they'd be arbitrarily skeptical all over again.
It's almost as if I'm in television show myself.
"Psst, Liam, on your left." I whispered, trusting Angel's vampire hearing to pick up my words.
We had checked the Bronze before and Buffy was still in there dancing herself silly with the 'Scooby Gang'. It wasn't a big deal but did give us some time to coordinate our upcoming battle. Angel was drafted as our tank, running into the fray to keep pressure of Buffy, while I'd use my crossbow to harass the Three. Only as a last resort would I jump into the fray with them.
My aim was utterly atrocious, at least compared to where I wanted it to be, which made me leery of trying to use my shotgun. At least I could easily heal a misfired bolt if it accidentally hit Buffy; burns would be substantially more painful to cure. That being said; I really wanted to set something on fire.
"I'll take the little one." I whispered again to Liam.
His muted reply was only barely loud enough for my senses, "Just don't hit me with the red beam."
Angel was clearly still a little testy from our conversation earlier. That didn't mean he was wrong though. I couldn't imagine having to explain to Buffy I managed to kill Angel by accident.
The two vampires we spotted were in the process of dragging a pair of young girls into an abandoned warehouse. Angel and I dropped from the rooftop we were on when I remembered to warn Angel about my Flash Bang.
"I'll cast something to disorient them. Do not look at the pretty lights, Liam."
The facsimile of a man didn't bother replying and just nodded his acknowledgement. When we got close enough to the warehouse Angel ran around to cover the back while I counted the seven seconds he wanted me to wait.
About nine heartbeats later I jerked and twisted my Flash Bang into existence and lobbed it through the door. The spell briefly illuminated the building and followed that up with the outward explosion of the buildings windows.
I ran through the door and took stock of the situation. The two college aged girls were knocked unconscious in a corner of the building. The pair of vampires was busy clasping their hands to their faces whilst screaming in agony.
They made for wonderful targets.
I aimed my crossbow, let loose with a bolt, and watched as I made my first headshot ever. The next bolt hit the vamp in the stomach while the one after lodged itself in its stomach. The last bolt flew past the vampire as it twisted and ran towards me. I dropped the cross reached into my duster to pull out a stake while I used my other hand to activate my wrist stake.
Armed with two stakes I settled into a defensive posture, cast a Fortress, and waited for the vampire to reach me. A heartbeat later the vampire was on top of me and took a massive swing at me. I blocked the swing with one arm, reeled from the impact despite my skin hardening spell, and tried to stake the vampire with my other arm. The sheer force behind my strike embedded the carved stake to the hilt in the vampires' chest but I missed the heart.
The vampire managed to work through the inconvenience of having multiple wooden objects forcibly stuffed into it and pushed me away. I rolled with the momentum and saw the vampire standing with his back towards a wall. It used the brief window to pry the stakes out of itself.
I didn't waste the opportunity, to lob my entropy spell at the creature without risking anyone else, and unleashed the Heat Death on the walking corpse. The following immolation was just as amusing as the first one I witnessed. Sheer exhilaration coursed through me until I noticed Angel standing over the two girls.
No sign of the other vamp.
I crossed the distance in what felt like a single step, crouched near the two girls, and busied myself drawing out their injuries with Bank Safe.Angel seemingly knew what blood mages were about considering he didn't moan and bitch when I shoved my fingers into their neck wounds.
A handful of heartbeats later and both their eyes flew open. We calmed both girls down and I insisted we walk them to the main road. Angel wasn't one for compassion to strangers.
Neither was I.
XxXXxX
June 5th, 1997
The next hour was boring me senseless, it was only a little past twelve, and we didn't find so much as a mugging. Eventually Angel's Buffy senses must have started tingling because he gestured for me to follow him to the Bronze.
I did my best keeping the surprise out of my expression but Angel certainly caught it. His ensuing smirk was the first form of smile I saw on the ensouled vampire. Buffy just exited the Bronze, on her own, and headed out into the dark.
We kept our distance from the girl and relied on my heightened sense of smell to keep up with her. After a few minutes we were closing in on her neighborhood and we still hadn't seen a peep from the Three. If Angel wasn't certain they'd be out tonight I might have started questioning my recollection.
Of course that was the moment the trio of vampires struck.
Buffy was caught by surprise but managed to work one to the ground while kicking another across the street. The last vampire caught her from the back and threw the blond Slayer over his shoulder at the car behind him.
Angel surprised me with the sheer acceleration he was capable of. He was on the vampire closest to Buffy before my second bolt left the crossbow. The first curiously implanted itself firmly into the heart of the ugliest vampire leading to an immediate immolation. The second hit the ashy air.
Buffy recovered from the annoying surprise of an Angel sized projectile stealing a vampire from her and ran to meet the remaining vampire in hand to hand combat.
With both vampires occupied I really didn't have much to do beyond closing in. Instead I jumped on top of a nearby garage, collapsed the crossbow, and pulled out my shotgun. It was the last chance I'd have to use it and I wasn't going to waste it.
I jumped off the garage, got myself a little closer to the conflict, and waited until Buffy threw the vampire through the air. Knowing her it was inevitable and my hunch was proven right when a few seconds later the vampire lined up perfectly with my aimed 'Dragon's Breath' rounds.
The loud and fiery shrapnel hit the vampire and it burned as it fell to the ground. Certain that it wouldn't be enough to kill the vampire quick I shot another round into the trashing vampire. Its ashy demise was certainly a sight for sore eyes.
Buffy looked at me with comically widened eyes and I couldn't resists.
"Can your punches do that?"
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*Chapter 025: June 6th, 1997-A*I had received a reply from the Watcher's Council concerning the ancient artifact, the Golden cross of Du Lac, I had sent to them the week before. According to the Council Du Lac's ancient secrets were worth exactly eighteen thousand dollars to the cent.
The number did seem a tad on the low side to me but considering I was unwilling to trust the Council with the Zeus-maker, destroying the manuscripts would be pointless, and frankly too difficult for me to put in use... I simply took it as free money.
My finances were healthy enough to see me through high school and god forbid college, if I'm stuck here that long, so the sum could safely be spent on making Sunnydale a safer place.
For me.
The excitement on Andrew and Jonathans faces when I told them about it was only matched, and quite possibly exceeded, by my offer to split the money three ways. Andrew immediately offered to put half of his share into the production of shiner toys and Jonathan promised to use his part to expand our magical library. I let the boys know I'd be using most of my share for the same purposes but I was going to spend a fraction of it on them.
"I-I look... this isn't like me!"
"I thought that was rather the point, Andrew?"
"I really don't agree with this either!"
"I'm actually quite alright with that, Johnny."
Both boys glared their cute little ineffectual glare and looked ready to share their mutinous thoughts. Since I couldn't have that I decided to preempt their attempt.
"In fact, I do actually believe this would be the point where both of you thank Harmony profusely for her time and efforts."
Harmony's smug expression was utterly priceless. We all had spent most of the morning in LA shopping for new outfits for the boys and she had been a godsend. Her flaying tongue ridiculed, shamed and at some points simply browbeat the two lads into acceptance. They still didn't quite believe that clothes do in fact make the man but they were getting there.
After we finished up shopping for the boys I treated the entire group to lunch at some swanky place Harmony simply had to go to. The girl brought three of her minions with her and I swear I could hear her thinking that her control over them was absolute... unlike me and my boys.
XxXXxX
June 6th, 1997
The lads and I left the girls to their own devices for a few hours, certain that a bunch of teenage girls could amuse themselves in the big city, and headed out to a certain magic shop. Our excuse that Drew wanted to visit a specific comic book shop was enough to guarantee none of them would interfere with our plans.
We got lost for a good long while, damn my lack of gps navigation, but eventually we found the Book City. The store wasn't flashy and over the top like Uncle Bob's Magical Cabinet but it did have a rather understated elegance.
I walked towards the shop, flanked by Jonathan, and set off to find Mr. Denver. We left Andrew in the car to guarantee our smooth escape.
Just in case.
The proprietor of the magic shop was an old acquaintance of Angel's and I was here to take advantage of that. In the fifties Angel had met the man while searching for the supplies necessary to kill a majorly powerful Thesulah demon. The demon haunted the Hyperion hotel which the cherubic faced vampire would base his headquarters out of in the future. Back then it was in actual use as a hotel... and as a buffet for the suicide inspiring demon.
When Angel found Denver and tried to purchase the supplies the purveyor of magic scorned him for his vampiric nature and tried to ward him off. Fortunately for him Angel was already in the possession of a soul and simply disarmed the man... acquired the supplies and promptly left.
The immensely powerful magical object that was kept on a shelf by Denver was entirely worth coming all this way to Los Angeles. I had high hopes that Denver would simply give or sell me the item but should the worst come to pass I had Johnny prepare a little spell.
The boy managed to get his hands on the 'Bone of The Fakir' and had brought it for its use as a focal device to channel anti-surveillance spell. The spell temporarily, for around six and a half minutes, blocked all access to its wearer. It covered everything from sight, smell, and scrying to errant traffic cameras but its downside was the unbearably long downtime between its uses.
I signaled Johnny to get ready to explore the shop and bag the artifact if it looked like the shopkeeper might deny our request. I left it up to him whether or not he'd pilfer any other powerful goodies he came upon.
"Now, mate."
I walked into the building and was immediately set upon by the proprietor of the shop. The aged man looked as if he could fall over from the sheer effort of walking across the shop floor but eventually made it over to us.
"Good afternoon, what can I do for you?"
"Would I be right to assume you're Mr. Denver?"
"That would indeed be me. Did someone refer you to my shop, young man?"
"Yes, sir. My name is Nicolas Blackwater and I was sent here by the vampire Angel."
The man's frail demeanor melted away immediately and his eyes seemingly came to life.
"Angel sent you... whatever for?"
"We're having some problems on the Boca del Inferno, sir. We fear we will be beset upon soon by an ancient demon wearing the skin of a Kleynach demon and rumor has it you're the one person who has an oven mitt that could stop it."
The old shop keeper went awfully quiet for a few heartbeats but eventually spoke up.
"That's an exceptionally powerful 'oven mitt' young man. I would entrust it to Angel in a heartbeat, if you would pardon the expression, but I do not know you."
"I understand your hesitancy, sir. If Angel was in a position to come he would have but he is needed on the Hell Mouth. He did tell me in excruciating detail about your encounter in 1952 and how it inspired you to look for the good in people... and demons. I'm asking you to do the same now, sir."
The old man pinned me with a curious gaze, nodded once, and shuffled to the back of the shop.
I had to trust that Jonathan was performing his part because even to my senses the boy simply vanished completely. The running timer in my mind roughly guessed we had another three minutes left on the spell.
The geriatric shop owner was gone for another minute when I started to feel the deadline coming closer and closer. Eventually he shuffled his way out with a wooden box.
"I implore you, young man, to take the greatest of care with this."
The man handed me the box, I peeked inside and felt the power the artifact radiated, and closed it. The power was incredible but it tasted neutral. There was no influence along with it. The power simply was.
"I will, sir. Do you have a message I should pass on to our mutual acquaintance?"
"Just that I still treasure his gift... just tell him that for me."
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*Chapter 026: June 6th, 1997-B*I left the Book City, taking care to leave an opening for Jonathan to follow me out, and headed out to car where Andrew was waiting for us.
"Did you get it, Nick?"
"Yeah we did, the shopkeeper was an old softie, and I wonder what Johnny was up to though."
"How long before he turns bac-"
Jonathan had appeared in the backseat and slapped Drew on the back of his head. With all of us in the car I started the engine and drove off. We still had a few places to hit.
"Already back, Andrew. Boy... that was something... I think I understand why the cool-down on the spell is so long."
"What do you mean, Johnny?"
"It's not just a cloaking spell like I thought the last time I used it... I was mostly displaced but I could still interact with everything. I just feel that if I went back a third time... it would be bad. Don't ask please."
Well, fuck.
I hadn't considered that particular outcome but I was sincerely pleased Johnny hadn't gone 'poof' on us.
"Alright, Johnny, just remember we're here for you if you do need to talk later."
The boy nodded but remained quiet for the rest trip. Drew and I didn't really know what else to do so I awkwardly put on the radio. I was pleasantly surprised to hear the intro tunes of The Verve blaring on the first channel I tried. The radio disk jockey exclaimed it was a sneak preview and whoever could answer some stupid question or other would win tickets to their show.
I started singing along with Ashcroft until I noticed Drew staring at me about half way through Bitter Sweet Symphony.
"Erm. I didn't think my voice was that bad, Drew?"
"No... that... I-I... what the hell, Nick!"
I certainly didn't expect that reaction from the usually non-confrontational boy.
"What?"
"Do you visions tell you about song lyrics?"
Oh.
OH!
Well damn.
"In a manner of speaking... I don't want to lie to you, Drew. Can we table this for now, please? I promise I'll explain everything in the summer holidays."
Both boys agreed and I spent the rest of the trip chastising myself over such an obvious slip. If one of Harmony's friends was in the car with us this could have gotten even more awkward.
A few minutes of silence later and we arrived at the electronics shop we were looking for. All three of us hopped out to help Andrew collect his massive order. The blond teen had ordered close to three hundred Logitech webcams, a variety of other electronics and a whole bunch of computer monitors that looked positively ancient to my eyes.
The shop owner was kind enough to package the webcams together with the smaller pieces of random tech Andrew needed. It obviously fell to me to carry the heavy boxes back to my car. After a trip or three we had firmly secured everything and went back out into the city.
We were going to catch a movie called Speed 2 with the girls. When we met them though I immediately nixed that option and insisted we'd watch the recently released film Con Air. I would never tire of Malkovitch movies.
XxXXxX
June 10th, 1997
Once again I was in the basement of Uncle Bob's Magical Cabinet meditating while my senses were assaulted. Uncle Bob claimed Giles' meditation techniques were adequate but I was to adhere to his alterations.
When I asked for a clarification all I got was the cryptic and rather ominous reply that 'what's good enough to contain the Ripper might not be sufficient for you'. My instructor set up the same mind altering incense he had attuned to me weeks before.
The only thing he added to the whole experience was the annoying 'sounds of the savannah' tape he had blaring through the speaker system he set up for me.
I spent considerably longer under siege this time but eventually the mental assault came to an end when Uncle Bob shut everything down.
"That was about six hours and you held up reasonably well, boy." After a brief moment the man continued, "You haven't been eager to explore new magics lately. Is Ripper making you soft?"
It wasn't so much that Giles put a stop to my more adventurous ideas but the man did impress certain considerations upon me. After the librarian handily trounced me with nothing but telekinesis I was inclined to accept his view that rushing into new magic is interesting but not the best use of your time. You are better served if you flesh out what you already posses.
When I complained to the man about the abominably shoddy control and power of my own telekinetic powers he agreed to help me focus. The fact that I was used to forcing my magic through my foci bracelet was severely limiting my ability to impact the world around me with unformed magic. Warlocks like Uncle Bob could get away with working foci-less but if you didn't have access to divine Patrons to protect you from the backlash well... things rapidly become more difficult.
All I could do was continue to do my meditations and strengthen my hold on my own magic.
"Not exactly, sir, but I don't have any scary rituals planned soon. I'm helping my two friends explore what I've already learned though. It's been very educational sitting on the other side of the table... so to speak."
My instructor nodded, went out of the room to get the teas he loved so much, handed me a cup and spoke up.
"Ripper... the man was a regular beast in his day. I can understand his reticence. Did you tell him about everything you did?"
"No. He was rather upset about the familiar rituals and compared to messing with the Primal that was child's play. I just decided to accept the consequences and suck it up."
Everything I ate that wasn't meat tasted like cardboard. I'd pay that price for super powers any day of the week and twice on Sunday.
"Good. You're learning, boy. The nature of Flesh Magics should insulate you from the very worst, which is why I never stood in your way, so if there is anything you wouldn't share with Ripper... I hope you know better than to expect judgment from me."
With a supernatural force of willpower I ruthlessly squashed my desire to poke the scary Warlock about his body language indicating jealousy and just nodded.
"I do have some interesting ideas, sir.
The Warlock smiled, his eyes got that odd glitter and told me to get on with it.
"You know how tracking and locating spells use connected objects to find what they are looking for? Is there any way to use the links between objects in a more... useful way?"
"Elaborate."
Heh.
He only got gruff when he's impressed.
"Like for instance; could I link pieces I scavenge from around the city to make a miniature model of it. A model I could manipulate and observe in real time?"
My instructor went incredibly still, drifted off into one of his meditations, and snapped out of it ten minutes later. His booming laugh filled me with hope I might actually survive the Hell Mouth.
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*Chapter 027: June 10th, 1997-A*Thoroughly pleased with our brainstorming session I walked out of my instructor's magic shop. The two of us had agreed that I was to provide the magical punch to set up the structure of the model and handle the multitude of connections. Uncle Bob would handle the finer magical work which due to his long career as Warlock became near instinctive. I knew having a magical mentor would work out.
Of course... all the legwork would have to be done by me.
Yippy.
I walked out the door, crossed the street to the parking zone, while still preoccupied with our upcoming project. Words simply couldn't describe how excited I was for Little Sunnydale to come into being.
Clearly I suffer from the same curse Angel does because right then and there Sunnydale decided to punish me for my joy. I smelled the putrid combination of death and blood which was never a good thing in the best of circumstances.
I didn't let up I noticed I was being watched and briefly considered turning around back to the magic shop. Flashes of Angel's terrible speed quickly crossed out that suicidal plan. The vampire's smell was at least two hours old which meant that whoever they were... I was their target. I'd rather face the music now than be caught unaware later.
Instead I reached into my duster for one of my small paintball guns and hid it in my sleeve; cast a Fortress, withdrew the knuckle-brass with cross carvings and continued onwards to my car.
The smell gradually got thicker and when I came close to the corner crossing I heard two distinct sets of footsteps. One of them was walking near my car while the other was in the alley I'd have the walk past to get to my car.
I went around the corner, saw the blond figure in the distance as it sat down on the hood of my car, and confidently kept walking. Constantine let me know he was lending his support by way of his intensely personal presence in the back of my mind. I can't put into words how much better that always made me feel.
A moment later and I was a few steps away from the alley. I was reasonably sure I knew exactly where the vampire in the alley was but so far my entire plan was to... rush in and hope to kill it before other vamp closes in on me. Yet, when the alternative was to fall into the trap, I could live with it.
I hoped.
Just before I got to the alley I dismissed my Fortress, preferring flexibility over a one-shot defense, and ran in to the alley. The vampire was lurking in the shadows almost exactly where I expected it to be and when I fired into its general area with the paintball gun I readied myself to use the entropy spell.
The vampire did the thoroughly predictable maneuver of bum-rushing me but was agile enough to dodge my Heat Death. Knowing I blew my load I exploded into action, jumped on a nearby ledge and launched myself from there onto the rooftop, and kept running.
Vampires might be able to catch me in a sprint but I can jump better... unless Angel was fucking with me and let me win.
God damn it.
I turned around as I heard the vampire reach the roof and met him with a Heat Death to the stomach. It exploded in fiery ashes almost immediately. I turned around to continue jumping buildings when I saw the blond vampire leaning against the wall across from me.
"Impressive. I see why my Angelus played with you."
"Hello, I'd call you by your given name... but you have forgotten it haven't you Darla?"
The blond vampire could have so very easily crossed the distance while I was engaged with the other vamp but she chose not to. The bitter thought galled me extremely but it did mean she didn't want me dead... yet. Trying to keep her unbalanced without pissing her off would be a fucking joy...
The soulless leach smiled, wagged her finger at me and said, "You're fast becoming interesting, young man."
"Somehow I doubt being of interest to the Mistress of the Whirlwind will be healthy for me."
The walking corpse laughed a thoroughly seductive laugh, winked and said, "The Master was right about you. I'm glad I don't have to bring him disappointing news."
I decided to simply not play her game and show my knowledge of the vastly scarier but locked up Master. Instead I went for a different tack and cast a Fortress.
"On a scale from one to ten, Darla, how high do vampires rank on the demonic hierarchy?"
The ex-prostitute seemed to actually consider it for a moment, grasped her chin between her thumb and index finger, and eventually spoke up.
"A little past the middle I'd say. Are you angling to ascend to a higher life form?"
My situation felt dire enough to risk close combat. I was under no illusions I would kill her that way but slowing her down with two stakes in her and taking off running was a win to.
I just needed her enraged.
"How much longer will your delusion of superiorly last once your Master frees the Old Ones?"
She didn't rise to the occasion.
"You're remarkably well informed. I must have a chat with Angelus soon; despite his tainted nature he still has an eye for talent."
Let's kick it up a notch. I really need her to make the first move.
I tried to weaponize smugness with the toothy grin I gave Darla, "That's debatable. Mostly I'm just impressive when contrasted to a rundown syphilitic whore."
That did it for the blond prostitute, the blond vampire rushed me, I flicked my wristband and felt the comforting weight of the stake in my hand. Darla noticed the stake and veered off the right. I twisted with her keeping the vampire right in front of me and fired the paintball gun on automatic at her.
Several pellets her, mildly sizzling the ancient vampire, but it was enough to throw off her next assault. I dropped the paintball gun just as she finally got close enough to take a swipe at my stake hand, missed as I twisted slightly to the left, but connected with her other fist to my face.
I slightly felt the knockback, cast another Fortress as I moved my left hand to counter, and watched as my brass left a sizable indentation in her cheek. Darla's own counter hit me in the stomach, to similar little effect, and this time my own retaliation firmly embedded the stake in her neck.
Darla immediately jumped backwards across the rooftop and I took the opening to cast a Heat Death at her. Unfortunately the vampire was quick enough to sidestep it as she jumped down to the alley.
I took the moment to grab two stakes from my duster, picked up the paintball gun, and ran as fast as I could. The name of the game was suddenly build up momentum and run to Sunnydale High.
I just needed twelve uninterrupted seconds before I'd be untouchable to the vampire.
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*Chapter 028: June 10th, 1997-B*My heart was thundering in my chest as I jumped from the building I fought the blond vampire on to the next.
Ten seconds.
I heard the footsteps of a recovered Darla on ground level.
Eight seconds.
The footsteps kept getting louder.
Six seconds.
I'm running about fifty kilometers per hour, definitely nearing my top speed, and was almost at the point where I'd be safe.
Four seconds.
Suddenly I couldn't hear the footsteps anymore. I readied myself for another jump, positive I was going to be in the clear soon. While I was midair I was hit by a fucking freight train.
I lost all momentum and fell to the ground in an undignified heap.
Fuck!
The Fortress I had active was the only thing stopping me from breaking multiple bones upon my landing. It however still left me dazed and incredibly disoriented. The spell negates most of whatever impacts me but that still left enough force to make me see proverbial stars.
I pushed myself off the ground, found myself on my feet, and reached for two new stakes. I had lost the old ones during my brief Wile. E. Coyote impersonation. Before I could withdraw them Darla flew at me.
I was thrown through the windows of an abandoned warehouse. Ruthlessly squashing the rogue thought bubbling up about there not being any non-abandoned warehouses in Sunnydale I checked myself for damage.
The leather duster absorbed a great deal but quite fortunately for me it didn't cover all my skin. A handful of glass shards had embedded themselves in my hands and face. I used the accompanying release of pain to cast a quick succession of Bank Safe to rid myself of the various cuts, aches and bruises my short struggle netted me.
Things got really quiet then. Either Darla figured out I could track her by ear or she was just gone. Somehow I doubted the latter was the case. Instead I started leaning more on my sense of smell and after a heartbeat got a bead on the putrid stench Darla emanated.
I jerked my bracelet, let an extremely unstable Flash Bang form and threw up it up at the ceiling. Just before I broke the connection that would set it off I 'turtled' myself under my duster.
The flash of blinding passed by me harmlessly but the concussive force was even worse than the last time I used it. The various crates and left behind equipment exploded from the force and flew all around the building. My hearing was shot but since clearly the fucking vampire figured out how she should be trying to sneak up on me, it didn't matter.
I emerged from my duster, grabbed two stakes, and desperately wished I hadn't left my shotgun in my car. I looked around and cast my senses as far as they could go. I fired off an instinctive Fortress just as a fucking metal table appeared to be flying towards me. I ducked but the edge of the table still nicked my head and I fell to the ground from the impact.
Suddenly the stench was unbearable and Darla was on top of me. Her first kick launched me towards the far wall of the room, her follow up punch drove me back into the ground, and afterwards the vampire didn't give me an opening to recover.
The blond vampire grabbed me by the foot and swung me over her head towards the nearest wall. I hit the wall, briefly noted the indentation I made in it, and before I even hit the ground the vamp was on me again.
It grabbed me by the throat with a single hand and pulled me up towards her bringing me up to face height with the foul animated corpse.
The creature ferociously snarled but its voice sounded distant, "Regretting your words now, little boy?"
I was still too dazed to do anything about it but grab for her arm.
That was when I finally got my first decent break in this running battle. Darla was apparently pissed I didn't reply and punched me in the mouth. The impact dazed me further but the moment I tasted blood in my mouth I knew what to do.
I collected the blood in my mouth and spit it in Darla's face, yelled as loud as I could with the steel grip on my throat Ignis Sanguis, and watched as the droplets of superheated blood melted through the vampire's right eye and cheek.
The vampire screamed in outrage, reflexively dropped me, and grabbed for her face. I didn't have time for any other clever tricks and instead I settled for pummeling the bitch.
I kicked at her knee while she was still distracted, quickly caught her attention again with an uppercut to her jaw, and followed that up with a right hook to its already hurt face. Darla staggered backwards, recovered near instantly, and went on to prove why she'd survived three centuries of conflict.
The flurry of retaliatory punches and kicks she hit me with flowed together as though it was perfectly and extensively choreographed. I collapsed in a heap in a corner of the room she launched me at.
The muted sounds of the vampire's snarl reached me just as she did, "I was just going to kill you. Now I'm going to make you suffer, little boy."
The foul creature was on me, picked me up again, and embedded me on a piece of thick metal piping sticking out of the wall I had just barely missed before.
I saw the pipe emerge from just under my navel, grabbed the piece of metal to keep me from falling and ripping myself to pieces. The pain wasn't the very worst I felt up until then but it certainly wasn't to be fucking scoffed at. Darla's cruel laugh was only punctuated by the punches she landed on my shoulders and chest. She wasn't trying very hard to get me to let go... in fact I doubt she wanted the fun to be over too soon.
The thought that she was playing with me upset me more than all the hurt she'd been laying on me. I channeled the utter fury I felt at being so fucking helpless and readied myself to make my last stand. Constantine made his presence known and gave me the little boost I so desperately needed.
If I was going out like this the bitch was coming with me. To cover what I was planning I reached deep inside for the vestiges of the Hyena, looked downwards and howled.
"I'M NOT PREY, BITCH!"
I let go of the pipe of my own accord, gladly embraced the accompanying rending and tearing of my flesh, and used the incredible power of it to cast something I had never dared before.
I gathered the structure through my pain filled blind fugue state and called forth the biggest and most unstable entropy curse I'd ever cast. The Heat Death exploded from out of my gut in a forty five degree arc and decimated everything in its path. The whole building shook, an entire wall disintegrated into nothingness and the ceiling came down with it.
Despite that utter relief rushed through my entire being.
I grabbed for wall behind me, finally found some purchase, and pushed myself off the fucking pipe. I collapsed on the floor but not before I started channeling an extended Bank Safe from the tear caused by my fall.
I was watching my ruined guts slowly mend themselves as I heard that grating voice from behind me.
"You missed!"
Two hot points of pain appeared in my neck and I smiled as I knew what to do.
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*Chapter 029: June 10th, 1997-C*I always imagined getting sucked dry would be like being drained by two very large syringes. I was absolutely correct. There was however no pleasure involved in the act whatsoever. Clearly all those thinly veiled vampire porn novels are pieces of magnificent propaganda.
It hurt.
The feeding hurt much worse than anything else Darla had done to me. I felt my blood surge out of me and with it the sympathetic magical links I was establishing between myself and my life giving essence.
There was no incantation, no spell structure that guided the power; this was ancient primal blood magic. This was the kind of magic my 'Flesh Magic' tome spoke of. The type of magic early man used to carve out enclaves out of the territories of the Old Ones. The legends that survived from this time claimed that the Elder Demons simply lost their purchase on our reality.
The legends have been distorted.
The Old Ones lost their grip on this reality because my spiritual predecessors merrily butchered, dominated, subverted and rampaged across their holdings. Countless eon's of struggles against the legions of the Old Ones eventually winded down when their subordinate Lesser Demons were scattered into the wind.
At great cost to the mages they managed to reclaim the greater part of the world for themselves. Losing their primary source of worshippers the Old Ones started fading and the squabbles amongst themselves over the last vestiges of power intensified. Regardless of their eventual success... tangling with pure demons, be they Lesser or Elder, always came with exceedingly high costs of life and magic.
Fortunately for me I wasn't facing a pure demon let alone an Old One.
When I felt that one moment of rightnessI jacked my whole hand into the tear in my gut. I released the tight hold I held over my magic for the briefest of moments... felt it course through the vampire attached to my neck... and unleashed my will on the little blood demon.
Darla jerked away from me with a gasp, promptly lost her demon visage, and stood as still as a statue. I withdrew my hand from my intestines but kept a finger poking through the skin. Afterwards I jerked a little further in the tear and started my extended healing process with Bank Safe.
I watched as body started mending itself but when I felt I was out of danger of passing out from bloodloss I focused on Darla.
I growled, "Rip out your fangs."
The undead whore reached into her mouth and started ripping out her death-bringing fangs without a sign of resistance. I knew I couldn't keep this up for long but I simply had to have a trophy from this. I'm not sure whether this came from a forgotten instinct or if I was simply still in grips of my own bloodlust.
Maybe I just wanted the bitch to know how badly she fucked up. I reached into what's left of my duster, pulled out a stake, and threw it at her feet.
I growled at the foul creature again, "Drop the fangs on the ground, pick up the stake, and embed it in your heart."
The syphilitic vampire obeyed without hesitation and without any fuss simply pushed the stake in her chest. Her immolation was a fucking joy to watch.
I rolled over on my back between the rubble and settled in to waiting for my healing spell to finish. I wasn't quite sure how it would fix my blood loss but I'll give that some thought when I next meet Uncle Bob.
All in all it took a little over six minutes before I was back to a hundred percent. I walked over the fangs, pocketed them, and swore to myself to never be caught without my shotgun or crossbow again. I cast a Fortress just to be on the safe side and jumped out of the holes in the ceiling.
I made my way across the buildings back to my car, sniffed the air deeply just to be cautious but didn't find any new putrid smells. When I reached my car I immediately went to the trunk, retrieved both my ranged weapons, and hopped into the driver seat. I drove off to the library. I needed to let Rip- err... Giles know what just happened.
XxXXxX
June 10th, 1997
When I reached the library I fervently hoped Giles would be around. If I had wasted my time coming here instead of meeting up with Uncle Bob I'd be super fucking pissed.
Luckily for me things finally seemed to be going my way when I reached the library. Giles and Buffy were sparring in the clearance while Xander and Willow were doing something with the computer.
I cleared my throat and said, " ?"
Xander immediately spoke up, "Holy smokes, Nick, you look like shit."
Giles stopped playing punching bag for Buffy, turned around, and I heard him sharply inhale a breath of air.
"No fucking shit, Xander. Are you going to tell me vampires are bad news next?"
Willows fairly predictable but annoying exclamation certainly didn't help. "Hey! Language!"
"Everyone be quiet! Nick, what happened to you?"
"I was on my way home when I was jumped by two vampires. One of them died easily. The other beat the ever living fuck out of me."
I took a deep breath and continued, "And then it went poof in a flash of ash when a stake got through its un-beating heart."
Buffy decided to let her presence be know right then.
"No fiery gun at hand?"
So. Not. Helping.
"Buffy, let's stay on point. Now, Nick, were you specifically targeted or was it a random attack?"
Way to go Giles.
"The dangerous vampire was Darla, Liam's sire, and she said she was on a 'fact finding mission' for someone called 'The Master' and that he was interested in me. I swear I could hear her capitalize the M in Master."
Willow gasped, Giles gulped, but Xander jumped up and ran to me. When the boy reached me he grabbed me by the shoulders and stared straight at me.
"Did you kill her?"
"Yea, she's incredibly dead. I scattered the ashes just to be safe."
The lad then pulled me into a tight hug and exclaimed, "Thank you!"
I was a little confused until I remembered that Darla was responsible for Xander's best friend being turned.
"You're welcome, mate. So Mr. Giles... any chance you have a little drill around here?"
Buffy cut in with her own question before Giles could reply, "Nick, who is Liam?"
"Oh. Liam is Angel. Did he not tell you his real name?"
"No. No I guess he didn't."
"He must not like you very much."
"Hey!"
"Children, play nice. Now what was it you wanted, a drill?"
I reached into my pocket and pulled out the two fangs I collected and showed them to Giles, "Yeah. I beat the teeth out Darla and I'd like to make a necklace with them."
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*Chapter 030: June 11th, 1997-A*"Hey, good morning guys, sorry I was a bit late."
"No problem, Johnny. Hop in."
Andrew and I had just picked up Jonathan on our morning route to school. On the way to him I told Andrew something had happened the night before but I'd explain once Johnny was with us.
"Ok, spill it, Nick."
"Yesterday I was ambushed by two vampires. One of them was a no-name fledgling but the other was a three centuries old master vampire. She, Darla, spent most of a half hour beating me senseless."
Both boys gasped but Johnny recovered first and spoke up, "Well you're here in one piece in the daylight so I'm sure you made it out fine but... did they come after you specifically?"
Johnny was getting better at thinking things through and that filled me with a quiet sort of pride. Both boys made tremendous progress compared to where they were before but Johnny was still leagues ahead on Andrew in certain matters. His magical studies came along nicely and if I judged things correctly he was about as far as he'd be in the sixth season. Beyond that the boy still had a long way to go on the social front.
That's where Andrew had Johnny beat. His own magic was still suitably impressive but the biggest change for him was the quiet confidence that filled him. The boy had simply ceased taking crap from anyone; most impressively standing up to his brother.
A few days ago Andrew showed up at my door with a rather big shiner and asked if he could come in. He explained he got into a fight with his brother at their home, managed to knock the lad out with a vase, and then cussed out his parents for their inability to rein the little psychopath in.
Afterwards he ran back to his still dazed brother, held a baseball bat at this throat, and warned him off with a series of rather impressive threats. This harder edge on the boy certainly made my mind spin with all the delicious opportunities that came with it.
"Yea, during the confrontation the vamp mentioned they had me under surveillance, which brings me to my next point. I doubt that their 'associates' aren't aware of you two. I want both of you to spend the next week or two at my place."
Andrew didn't have an issue with that but Johnny needed a little convincing. When pressed he exclaimed that he wasn't all that interested in hiding from things, especially since they might already be in the crosshairs of the local vamps.
"The Master vampire sent his best and most loyal vamp at me just moments after night break, Johnny. I have no doubt they would firebomb your house to get you out of it."
"What's the plan then?"
"We try to find out their base of operations and end the threat. I spoke with Buffy yesterday and she thinks we should go patrolling every night this week to beat some answers out of the grunts."
Andrew chose that moment to speak up, "I finished the headband with Miss Carpenter's help, it's in the computer lab; we can't help in the field yet, but we can at least play command center for you."
That definitely came as a pleasant surprise. When the boy told me about his plans for a head-cam I thought it would have taking at least several weeks.
I shared that sentiment with Drew, "I thought that would have taken much longer?"
Drew proudly replied, "I may be behind on my school work, or my chores at home, or sleep really. It is finished though!"
"Haha, well done. How does it work?"
"Well... I need you to power the device with a sympathetic link but beyond that it's mostly the 'techno-babble' that makes your eyes gloss over. Do you really want the specifics?"
I just stuck my tongue on in reply.
"Fine! Be that way, Drew."
XxXXxX
June 11th, 1997
"She's right around the corner. Get ready, Nick."
Drew warned me that 'Operation Corrupt the Witch' was a go. I had left the boy out of most of the planning but he had a fairly good grasp on the objective. The first step was introduce ourselves as an effective deterrent to her mother, who the girl still incredibly feared, after that we planned to establish ourselves as competent Warlocks. We still weren't planning on including the girl until she came to us though.
I picked the little red stress ball I bought out of my pocket and lobbed it high in the air. Jonathan caught the ball with his far more proficient telekinesis and promptly returned the ball to me. I extended my magic to swallow the ball and directed it very carefully back at Jonathan.
At that moment Amy walked into the corridor and froze as she took in the sight. We had positioned ourselves so she'd stumble over us with our backs turned to her. She would 'accidently' witness our TK game and then hopefully draw her own conclusion.
Jonathan TK'd the ball to Andrew who'd pretend to direct the ball my way. Drew still hadn't been able to cotton on to telekinesis but Jonathan was good enough to make it look it real. The ball headed my way and I returned it, again extremely carefully, back to Jonathan at face height.
That was the signal for Jonathan to catch the ball with his hands and stammer out his lines.
"Uhh. T-that wasn't w-what it looked like!"
Andrew and I turned around and were met with the sight of Amy slightly grinning.
"So that wasn't the three of you playing catch with your minds?"
"Uhh... "
We all knew to remain quiet and let the girl make the next move.
The girl sighed and pulled at the little red ball in Jonathan's hand. The ball flew out at an incredible speed and she kept the thing going around in circles around her head.
She smiled and said, "Really, you don't have to hide it from me."
I didn't want to make an impression of being weak at this point so again it fell to Jonathan to make the next the move. He extended his hand, pulled back at the little ball, and we were treated to the sight of the most adorable tug-o-war ever.
A minute or two later both Amy and Jonathan were frowning and I could tell that fatigue was setting it. That was my cue to get involved.
I gathered up my magic again, focused it into an as small as I could possibly make it area, and slapped the force on Amy's nose. The girl's focus broke and she flashed me a betrayed look.
"Hey, that's just not fair!"
I smiled my 1000watt smile and said, "Since when is magic about being fair?"
The blond cheerleader smiled but questioningly asked, "What is it about then?"
I let my smile settle into a predatory grin, growled a little, and said "Power."
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