SEVEN
"I hope you're feeling better," Malkus said after Cole had rested for a while.
"Some," Cole said. "I guess what you said is right. We are in a war. And I can't expect there to be no casualties in a war. But I don't have to like it."
"You'll soon see," said Nathaniel, "that things like this are necessary. There are going to be casualties if we are going to maintain the necessary balance between good and evil."
"What now?" asked Cole. "You said I had passed the test. Well, what do I do now?"
Malkus led them over to the large free hanging mirror again. He passed his hand over it as before and a scene appeared in the mirror. Cole recognized the scene. It was Buffy Summers. She seemed to be sleeping on a bus.
"The Slayer," Malkus said. "Much like the Charmed Ones, she has fulfilled her destiny. No Slayer has ever lived beyond the age of twenty-five. She is very close to that age now. And after defeating The First, it is unlikely that she will face anything as powerful in the near future. "
"What does this have to do with me?" Cole asked.
"Well," said Malkus hesitantly. "We've known for a long time that a special Slayer would come. We have watched each of the previous Slayers quite closely. Each time we thought they would be the one we have been searching for. And each time we have been disappointed when they died."
"Okay, I'll ask again," Cole said impatiently. "What does this have to do with me?"
'I'm coming to that," Malkus said. "We know that the Slayer who lives beyond her twenty-fifth birthday will have a new destiny. A very different destiny from just being the Slayer. Buffy Summers is that Slayer. She has grown well beyond the need for a human Watcher. There is little they can teach her now."
"But she is entering a new phase of her life, you might say," Nathaniel said. "Soon, she will pass beyond the constraints of her human existence. She has died twice and been resurrected each time. Her power is growing. She needs someone to guide her through the intricacies of her new station in life."
"And I'm that someone?" Cole asked.
"Yes," Malkus said. "Call yourself her supernatural Watcher, so to speak. She's going to need guidance in the near future. You are the perfect choice for that position. You can help teach her about the power she will gain. How to use it wisely and to her best interest."
"I see," Cole said. "Sort of groom her to join us, is that it?"
"Not necessarily," Nathaniel said. "Not everyone can join us. She may join us one day. But we do know she will have a new destiny. That is very rare. For someone, especially a mortal, to have a second destiny. Many people don't even have a single destiny. You can help her in her journey to her new destiny."
"What is her new destiny?" Cole asked.
"We can't say at the moment," Malkus said. "We do know it won't be combating vampires and demons. She is meant for a higher purpose. Just what that purpose is has not been made clear to us yet."
"Okay," Cole said. "What do I have to do?"
"She will have many questions," Malkus said. "Questions you will be in a position to answer for her. We want you to become her friend. Let her know that you're there for her. That you can help her through the very difficult period that is ahead."
"But you must not tell her who, or what, you are," Nathaniel impressed. "It will be a while before she is ready to accept what is happening to her. She must be eased in to that gradually."
"I understand," Cole said. "When do I begin?"
"As soon as you want," Malkus said. "Give her a few days to recoup from her recent ordeal. Considering everything she's been through the last few weeks, she can use a rest."
"Okay," Cole said. "I can spend the time learning about her. If I'm going to help her I need to learn who she is. That's going to take some research."
"Excellent," Malkus said. "Keep us apprised of your progress. And if you have any questions, Trembor will be available to you. He can be very useful as I'm sure you are already aware."
"Yes, I am," Cole said. "I think I'll start right away. The sooner I know about her the sooner I can start to help her."
"Fine," Malkus said. "Let me know if you need anything."
"I hope you're feeling better," Malkus said after Cole had rested for a while.
"Some," Cole said. "I guess what you said is right. We are in a war. And I can't expect there to be no casualties in a war. But I don't have to like it."
"You'll soon see," said Nathaniel, "that things like this are necessary. There are going to be casualties if we are going to maintain the necessary balance between good and evil."
"What now?" asked Cole. "You said I had passed the test. Well, what do I do now?"
Malkus led them over to the large free hanging mirror again. He passed his hand over it as before and a scene appeared in the mirror. Cole recognized the scene. It was Buffy Summers. She seemed to be sleeping on a bus.
"The Slayer," Malkus said. "Much like the Charmed Ones, she has fulfilled her destiny. No Slayer has ever lived beyond the age of twenty-five. She is very close to that age now. And after defeating The First, it is unlikely that she will face anything as powerful in the near future. "
"What does this have to do with me?" Cole asked.
"Well," said Malkus hesitantly. "We've known for a long time that a special Slayer would come. We have watched each of the previous Slayers quite closely. Each time we thought they would be the one we have been searching for. And each time we have been disappointed when they died."
"Okay, I'll ask again," Cole said impatiently. "What does this have to do with me?"
'I'm coming to that," Malkus said. "We know that the Slayer who lives beyond her twenty-fifth birthday will have a new destiny. A very different destiny from just being the Slayer. Buffy Summers is that Slayer. She has grown well beyond the need for a human Watcher. There is little they can teach her now."
"But she is entering a new phase of her life, you might say," Nathaniel said. "Soon, she will pass beyond the constraints of her human existence. She has died twice and been resurrected each time. Her power is growing. She needs someone to guide her through the intricacies of her new station in life."
"And I'm that someone?" Cole asked.
"Yes," Malkus said. "Call yourself her supernatural Watcher, so to speak. She's going to need guidance in the near future. You are the perfect choice for that position. You can help teach her about the power she will gain. How to use it wisely and to her best interest."
"I see," Cole said. "Sort of groom her to join us, is that it?"
"Not necessarily," Nathaniel said. "Not everyone can join us. She may join us one day. But we do know she will have a new destiny. That is very rare. For someone, especially a mortal, to have a second destiny. Many people don't even have a single destiny. You can help her in her journey to her new destiny."
"What is her new destiny?" Cole asked.
"We can't say at the moment," Malkus said. "We do know it won't be combating vampires and demons. She is meant for a higher purpose. Just what that purpose is has not been made clear to us yet."
"Okay," Cole said. "What do I have to do?"
"She will have many questions," Malkus said. "Questions you will be in a position to answer for her. We want you to become her friend. Let her know that you're there for her. That you can help her through the very difficult period that is ahead."
"But you must not tell her who, or what, you are," Nathaniel impressed. "It will be a while before she is ready to accept what is happening to her. She must be eased in to that gradually."
"I understand," Cole said. "When do I begin?"
"As soon as you want," Malkus said. "Give her a few days to recoup from her recent ordeal. Considering everything she's been through the last few weeks, she can use a rest."
"Okay," Cole said. "I can spend the time learning about her. If I'm going to help her I need to learn who she is. That's going to take some research."
"Excellent," Malkus said. "Keep us apprised of your progress. And if you have any questions, Trembor will be available to you. He can be very useful as I'm sure you are already aware."
"Yes, I am," Cole said. "I think I'll start right away. The sooner I know about her the sooner I can start to help her."
"Fine," Malkus said. "Let me know if you need anything."