Chapter 9: Pain is Relative

Chapter 9: Pain is Relative

And how should I begin?

Ah yes, today I met my new Slayer. She was made of sugar, spice and everything that can give a forty year old man an ejaculation. She was kind, gentle and looking forward to being a Slayer. She told me of her interest in me of being her watcher. And I look forward to her optimistic nature in doing her duties as defender of good and humanity until one day she's killed by some demon.

There, is that what you want to read? Goddamn it all! The girl's looks like she belongs in the girl scouts: Blonde hair, with gray eyes and a personality that could pass her off as Jesus' baby sister. How in bloody hell am I going to train her into a killing machine?

Just so you know I don't like being a watcher. So if you're reading this now. Piss off!

Aidan "Drinking, Whoring" Traverse

2005

When Aidan was introduced to Ashley Townes, his new Slayer, he wanted to find the nearest pub and get drunk. The girl was barely sixteen, and only recently called. She was bubbly and very much a child in all respects, a far cry from the hell raising Brigid, his former ward. Ah Brigid, now there was a Slayer if there ever was one: Wild, Tough and older by a year to Aidan who was barely twenty at the moment (and the youngest to graduate from the Watcher's Academy). Poor dear Brigid lost her favorite watcher when the stuffy authorities caught her and Aidan doing the "Bed Fraternization" sin. Aidan got yelled at, and a temporary transfer, while Brigid got a reputation for being another Faith. Aidan did research for the council's archives until one day, he was mysteriously appointed to a special mission to America or as Aidan would like to call it, "the bloody Yank colonies."

Now, away from home, Aidan didn't regret the loss of a relationship or position. After all what was between he and Brigid was just skin deep and he hated being a watcher. Hey, he was a twenty year old guy. What did the council expect when they set him up to watch over a nubile young woman? So upon arriving in the watcher's HQ in California, William Glessing, director of operations, gave Aidan a speech about following the rules and not running a three-ring circus like he did in his previous tours of duty. No gadding about in hostile situations without a backup. No using of magick without proper authorization (even when it is necessary). No "borrowing" of weapons from other watchers. No using of firearms like you're a damn yank. No stockpiling of "alcoholic beverages". And the worst of all, No flirting or sleeping with the Slayers!

Aidan was fine with the rules and he was rather nonchalant about it too. Things change in the field; rules don't apply so easily out there. And once out there, who was going to make sure the rules were enforced? Everybody in HQ knew of Aidan's history and they all whispered that he was another Wesley Wyndam Pryce in the making, an unstable rogue. But Aidan wasn't a rogue; he was just unstable – Period.

People in the office were busy and everybody thought that the newbies should get some easier assignments. So after several days of worthless sitting and small work, Aidan and his new Slayer, Ashley, were released to patrol a nearby hot spot near UCLA. The brass never talked about where they got their mysterious information from, but it seemed that there had been a lot of anonymous information passing their way lately. No questions asked. Aidan was glad that the leash was not as tight anymore and besides which, he planned a little detour after he saw some of the papers inside the office.

"You know you didn't have to come. I mean wandering around in spooky places is my job, right?" Ashley said shyly, Aidan went along with her.

"True. But I don't think the Watcher's council has any right to say what should happen in the field. Regulation or otherwise. You are, after all, the ones taking the brunt of fighting."

Ashley remained quiet after a moment and then spoke. "Is it true that you're ummm…. Never mind."

"A necromancer?" It was said matter-of-factly.

"No!" She turned red with embarrassment. "I mean, I hear people say that but I would never think you were that. I mean the council wouldn't let necromancers among them… would they?"

"They're just rumors…."

"Yeah, I'm sorry if I uh… said something. This whole Slayer thing is just new to me. And vampires and werewolves…whoah! I saw the movie Leprechaun and… you are giving me the eye so I'll just shut up."

"You'll get used to it." Aidan smiled.

"Yeah. I mean I was… What I really wanted to ask was that well… umm… The girls in the building were talking about… you know…"

"I slept with my previous assignment?" Aidan was amused and smiling slyly. "Was that your real question?"

She nodded.

"I'd answer that Ashley but I don't think that's any of your business."

"Oh right, sorry! It's just well… You know, I just want you to know that I'm not that kinda girl. Ashley the Vampire Slayer. And don't get me wrong you're cute and all and you got that wicked accent which is hot but I guess that's me being a bimbo… but I don't think I'm ready to be in that kinda place like your… uh… former… girl…. thing… with a Slayer. And plus you're older and I'm barely sixteen… but I mean you're not that old. Like dad-old, I mean and… and you're my Watcher. But I just don't want to go around like. 'Hey I'm a Slayer. I can do guys left and right as if they're just tic tacs like Faith and Buffy… And…Oh Dammit, I'm ranting and I need to stop that. Stop ranting! Stop that!"

Aidan smiled at her girlish banter and assured her that he was capable of being strictly professional. After all, he explained later, Brigid was the one who made the first move that night. She chuckled at the story but both tried to pretend the tense conversation never happened.

Talk turned milder as they walked on, and the embarrassing topic of sex was avoided by both sides. The conversation was steered carefully to the watchers in England, the Slayers, the current problems and what Rupert Giles was doing about all that at the moment.

"So the disease is mystical?"

"As far as we can tell. But no one's died yet."

"What about the innocent people being attacked? Not everybody's who's had the sickness is a Slayer or a potential Slayer."

"Maybe they're just casualties of war. As far as reported, no one's really died of the infection. So even if this thing spreads, there will still be hope for a cure for them." As if he understood Ashley's fears Aidan offered what little comfort he could manage. "It hasn't hit here that strongly yet, Ashley (but he wanted to add there were already cases). And from what the doctors report the plague cannot indeed kill (… yet) It just causes them to be bedridden and feverish. We'll get through this, you'll see. This isn't the first time this has happened you know."

"It isn't?"

"No. The black plague, for example, was also mystical and…" Aidan cut himself off and cursed himself at his big mistake.

"The black plague? The one that wiped out a quarter of Europe? Wow, thanks man that's really comforting."

Aidan suddenly felt like an idiot. "Ashley, the plague may be mystical but the rumor that it is attacking Slayers specifically, is only a rumor. It could get me as much as it could get you." He was lying but he didn't know what else to say. "You'll be fine. You seem very brave."

"You think so?" She blushed a little at the compliment and instantly became somber. "So this isn't a normal patrol. What are we doing here exactly?"

"There have been some reports of sporadic demonic activity in this area which seems very unusual in itself. Glessing thinks its all rubbish but I think we should check it before we proceed to our route."

"You think it's related to the crisis?" The place was a small knoll a few blocks from the edge of town.

Aidan squinted his eyes and reached for something in his overcoat. "I don't know. But I think they are." He pointed at a pack of vampires that stood like a walled column.

Ashley quickly turned to her watcher. "Got my back?"

"Of course." Aidan pulled out a small slender stake which he held like a knife.

Ashley leaped into action and the battle began. There were only four vampires but they all seemed tough somehow, big and more imposing than the usual variety Ashley had fought before. Not your usual scavenger. For some reason, which Aidan could not quite understand, the vampires were not surrounding them as he had expected instead they just stood like a cordon for something… What?

Then suddenly Aidan saw a cloaked figure running from the fracas, he had an escort of several more vampires. Ashley was busy fighting off the three vampires while Aidan was fighting off the fourth; he had shifted his attention for only a short period which cost him to fall on his ass. He had expected the vampire to pounce on the kill but it just broke off to surround his Slayer. Smart, he thought. They had a battle plan. Kill the Slayer then her Watcher. Aidan was about to show them the flaw of their strategy when something caught the corner of his eye.

Ashley was busy fighting off a vampire when Aidan yelled at her. "Duck."

"What?"

"Duck!"

Ashley managed to throw herself away from the flying headstone which hit two of the vamps. It broke with a crash a few feet away.

One of the vampires saw the flying headstone and shouted back to the sorcerer. "Just run. Forget about us here. Just get the missive to Vorathon." The sorcerer and his escorts obeyed running away as fast as they had come.

"Are you okay?" Aidan crawled to his Slayer.

"Yeah, uh… what the hell…"

"Sorcerer. Over there. They look like they're in a hurry. The vampires must just be escorts." The vampires were picking themselves up trying to cover the sorcerer's retreat. Aidan smiled. "This is where the real fun starts."

At that Aidan rushed past his Slayer and slammed against the robed figure, releasing a small chest unto the ground. The move was so daring that the escorts could only blink at the suicidal attack. As for Ashley, she thought that it was mad because now Aidan was surrounded by vampires and was wrestling a very angry sorcerer. She ignored her own pain, broke off from her battle and rushed to defend her Watcher, dusting vampires left and right as fast as she could to get to Aidan.

Aidan was gaining the upper hand over his prey, the pinioned sorcerer, but he was suddenly knocked off by a powerful blast. He staggered from the impact and as soon as he could stand up again, all that remained of his sorcerer was a fleeing figure being cordoned off with the help of several more vampires.

Aidan cursed under his breath. It was a stupid move but not entirely worthless, the sorcerer left a small chest behind. Perhaps that might lead to something about the activity of this place. But before he could celebrate the vampires had to be dealt with. Which was why it was a good thing that they were running away. Ashley was able to fight better now that the vampires were now prioritizing retreat.

Aidan managed to stake one but before he could proceed against another straggler he caught sight of his Slayer being pinned down by a vampire, she was about to be bitten. He was too far away and there was a vampire standing in front of him now making sure that he would not pursue those that had narrowly escaped. No choice, he thought. With his hands, he reached out and squished the two remaining vamps, the one guarding him and the one pinning Ashley down. The pain of using his powers made Aidan feel like he was being electrocuted but he kept at it until he was able to reduce the vampires into a pile of dust. After which he fell down on his knees panting from a pain in his chest, like an iron barb.

"Where'd you learn to do that?" Ashley was amazed by what had just happened.

Aidan didn't answer. He was too busy popping a painkiller into his mouth, which caused his face to relax somewhat.

"Super powers? Never mind… You'll tell me if you want." She didn't think she'd like the answers.

"I'm a necromancer."

"Oh I never… well, wow… They're true… Okay, my Watcher's a necromancer… that's not so bad, right? I mean that isn't bad because there are vampires with souls so there must be good necromancers, right? And I wasn't poking into your past, honest. You told me you were a necromancer all on your own. So…"

"Miss Townes!" Aidan's tone was harsh and he was pulling himself to his feet.

She only peeped.

"You can rant later. Right now, I need you to open this chest!"

Ashley obeyed and kicked the lock several times until it broke.

Inside were small bits and pieces of ancient scripts and texts. Aidan tried to read some of them but they required a better translation. He just handed them over for Ashley to keep as he found something that made his skin crawl. It was only an ordinary map but this one though, was not old or moldy. No, in fact it was a map of a place called Sunnydale. "We better get this to Malcolm." Bugger! This is no bloody coincidence. Anonymous information? More like a soddin' conspiracy!

"What does this mean?" Ashley asked.

"I don't know yet," Aidan replied.