AN- Hey guys! Sorry for the huge delay. It was my birthday a couple of weeks ago and I got a new laptop so I've had to move all my folders around. Also, for all the people who are waiting on Mutation to be updated, I'm really sorry for taking so long. I've had major writer's block and it just wouldn't flow. But don't worry! My friend Ruthie G 8 has offered to help me out and we should have the next chapter up soon.

Disclaimer- I don't own Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Damn, I don't know how many times I've said that.

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Dawn plunged her stake deep into the chest of the huge vampire she had been fighting. He let out a bloodcurdling roar and burst into a cloud of dust. She smiled, the warm glow of satisfaction spreading through her body.

The gang had been slaying for a few months now. Already the demons were beginning to talk of the mysterious group of freelance demon hunters that were causing their numbers to decrease rapidly. The news had yet to reach Slayer HQ but Dawn knew that it wouldn't be long before the Slayers in training started to hear the gossip.

"Sunrise!"

Dawn glanced up as Lexi jumped over her head and threw a stake into the heart of the vampire that had been trying to catch her unawares. Dawn grinned gratefully at her friend and was struck once again, by how different the gang looked in costume.

Dawn's short, waist high leather jacket fit her perfectly, showing off the curves of her body and making her look ten times older then she actually was. Lexi had gone for a full length leather trench coat which complimented her perfect figure and still managed to hide all her weapons. Lucy's jacket went down to her knees and the blonde cheerleader had managed to add yellow material to the insides of the sleeves. Ella's jacket was the same length as Dawn's but hers was made out of black denim opposed to leather. The girls had also applied thick black eye make-up to make it difficult for people to recognise their faces. They had stuck to their colour idea and during one of Lucy's mall crawls, they had found different coloured hair extensions.

Luke and Connor, true to their word, just wore black leather jackets and sunglasses. Originally, Theo had patrolled with the gang but after he had been knocked out by a particularly large demon, he had decided it was safer to be the "research guy." He had gone out and bought the gang ear-pieces so he could get in touch with them whenever they were away slaying.

"Sunrise, this is Alder. Come in Sunrise."

Dawn glanced up and touched her ear-piece lightly.

"Sunrise here. Is something wrong?"

She could hear the urgency in Theo's voice and felt a sick feeling growing in her stomach.

"Depends on your point of view." Came Theo's tinny reply. "We screwed up the timetable. I've only just noticed it now but there's supposed to be a squad of Slayers heading your way. You guys need to get out of there now."

"Shit." Breathed Dawn.

Lexi glanced up and shot a curious look at Dawn.

"Slayers are patrolling this area tonight." Dawn explained. "Theo mucked up the timetable."

"How much time do we have?" Asked Lexi, her face paling at the news.

"Not long." Came Theo's answer. "They should be arriving any minute."

"Oh, that's not good." Groaned Lexi. "We need to find the others and get out of here."

"Agreed. Alder, can you patch us through to the rest of the gang? They're patrolling at the other end of the graveyard."

"Can do Sunrise. OK guys, roll call."

"Sunrise here."

"Echo here."

"Cougar here."

"Libra alive and kicking."

"Canary here."

"Althea here."

"What's the big deal guys?" Asked Luke through the ear-piece.

"We have a situation." Explained Theo. "A squad of Slayers are approaching your location. You need to get out of there now."

"Right." Came Connor's voice. "Everyone move!"

"Meet back at our apartment." Ordered Lexi.

There were many murmurs of agreement as the gang quickly made a hasty retreat. Dawn turned to Lexi and was about to say something, when she was suddenly interrupted by a shrill scream. Lexi shot an alarmed glance at Dawn and the pair took off, racing towards the source of the noise.

They rounded the corner and the sight of a large vampire sinking his fangs into a young girl's neck, met their eyes. Lexi growled and launched herself into the vamp, knocking him away from his meal. Dawn raced towards the girl who was slowly losing consciousness and shook her shoulders.

"OK, you need to stay awake." She said urgently. "I need you to get out of here."

"W-who a-are y-you?"

"That's not important. Can you walk?"

A yell of pain interrupted the girl's answer and Dawn looked up in horror.

"Echo!"

Lexi had been thrown into a marble headstone and was struggling to get to her feet. Dawn stood up and shot a blast of energy at the vampire, who had been stalking towards her friend. The vampire exploded in a cloud of dust and showered the Scottish girl in a thin layer of vampire.

"Phew." Said Lexi, jumping to her feet and dusting herself off. "Y'know, that never gets old."

The girl was staring at the pair with wide eyes.

"Who are you?" Her voice was less shaky now and held a defiant tone.

Lexi fixed the girl with an amused look and took an exaggerated mock bow.

"Echo and Sunrise at your service."

Dawn elbowed Lexi in the ribs and glared at her. She bent down and offered the girl a hand up.

"It's pretty dangerous out here at night." She warned. "Wandering graveyards probably isn't the safest hobby."

The girl's face turned hard and she glared at Dawn and Lexi.

"I can take care of myself." She growled.

"Obviously." Said Lexi sarcastically. "That's why we had to pull a vampire off of you after it took a chunk out of your neck."

"You're a Slayer." Murmured Dawn, catching sight of a wooden stake that the girl had dropped.

"And you two are freelancers." Spat the girl.

Dawn sighed. Obviously she was one of the "normal people can't fight" believers.

"Where's the rest of your squad?" Asked Dawn in confusion.

"Hey! I'm the one asking the questions here!" Scowled the girl. "Who are you and how do you know we patrol in squads?"

"Common sense, dumb-ass." Sighed Lexi. "I'm guessing they wouldn't let incompetents, like you, hunt vamps on their own. I bet you got separated from your Slayer buds and then ambushed by our dusty friend. Am I right?"

Lexi grinned gleefully at the Slayer's stony face.

"I am right aren't I? Don't worry, it happens to everyone."

Dawn shook her head at Lexi's playful antics.

"We've already told you our names." She told the Slayer. "And you've figured out that we're freelancers. There's nothing really left to tell you."

"Sunrise and Echo?" Asked the Slayer sarcastically. "Those are your real names?"

"God, I hope not." Commented Lexi. "If so, our parents must have hated us!"

The Slayer was about to reply when the sudden sound of her name being called out across the deadly silent graveyard caught her attention.

"That must be the rest of your patrolling squad." Noted Dawn. "We should probably go."

She started to run towards the gates and motioned for Lexi to hurry up. Lexi waved to the Slayer and quoted a line from one of her favourite movies.

"You will always remember this as the day you almost caught Ech-"

The quote remained incomplete as the young Scottish girl tripped over a headstone. She sat up and glared at the offending object.

"Some things have no sense in decent movies." She sniffed.

The Slayer watched in a mixture of amusement and burning curiosity as the two mysterious girls disappeared into the night. Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the rest of her squad bursting out of the shadows. The Slayer was ambushed by the worried squeals of her teammates. She cringed as Kennedy, her squad leader, pushed to the front of the group.

"Where the hell did you disappear off to?" She snarled angrily. "We've wasted a good hour looking for you! You could have been seriously hurt!"

The Slayer opened her mouth to explain but Kennedy held up her hand to cut her off.

"Save your explanation for when we get back to HQ. There's no vampires out tonight anyway. Let's go and this time stay together!"

She shook her head and led the Slayers towards the exit. Her squad followed silently, all slightly bitter that the opportunity for slaying had escaped them.

"Well, that was rather interesting." Commented a voice from the shadows.

A figure stepped into the light and smiled at his companion. A sleek black cloak swept down from his shoulders, engulfing him in a dark shadow. The top half of his deathly pale face was hidden by a hood, showing only his mouth which was twisted into a cruel smirk.

"A Slayer saved by the ones she protects."

His companion joined him at his side and glanced up at his face. The moonlight shone off her incredibly pale skin and her long raven hair hung past her waist. She wore a gothic dress that hugged her perfect figure and her gleaming red eyes devoured the scene.

"Cassius." Her voice floated through the air like an eerie melody. "Why are you so obsessed with the group of children? Surely the Slayers are a greater threat?"

Cassius turned to face the young woman and stroked her deadly white cheek.

"That is what most assume. An army of young girls, each armed with the strength and courage of lions. But the Slayers are not willing participants in this war. The group of children have chosen to fight. They display true strength and that is what makes them the greater threat."

The woman cocked her head slightly and considered his words.

"They have much potential." Smirked Cassius. "They could be our downfall."

The woman hissed.

"Hush Bianca." Soothed Cassius. "Do not let your temper get the better of you. The children will need to be taken care of. We cannot let anything come between us and our goal."

A slow, evil smile crept across Bianca's face and her blood red eyes glistened in anticipation.

"I know just the demon." She snarled. "They do not know what they have let themselves in for."

"Good." Murmured Cassius. "We must not allow the children to reach their full potential. Otherwise our plan is doomed. Come now. We have business to attend to."

Cassius retreated into the shadows, his cloak billowing behind him. Bianca let her eyes roam around the silent graveyard once more before following her companion into the darkness. They would not fail.