Sixteen-year-old Xin Rong braided her hair in a tight ponytail. She wasn't going to take the chance of her long hair being pulled and used against her. It was a lesson that she learned the hard way during one of her first patrols. Xin almost lost her life, but she was so determined to live, that she let the vampire rip out strands of her hair before staking him.
Even with all the conflicts that were happening, Xin could sense his presence in Beijing. She heard whispers of a British foreigner that stalked the streets with his unhinged female companion. The latest word was that they were accompanied by another couple that conducted themselves less conspicuously. Xin would've hunted all of them sooner, but the ongoing rebellion stifled her patrolling. There were also her orders to protect the Buddhist temple (she suspected it came from Empress Dowager Tzu'u Hzi), which had largely remained untouched.
She emulated Ng Mui, an Abbess who was one of the Five Elders that survived the Shaolin Temple's destruction. Her mastery of five martial arts appealed to Xin. Even though the Slayer's life expectancy is short, Xin promised her mother Huan that she would survive by any means necessary. Huan feared for her daughter. Not because Xin was lacking in her martial arts abilities, but rather that she adhered too strongly to structure. Xin's younger brothers Hai and Duyi had less reservations about authority, especially the Watcher's Council. They didn't want anyone hunting vampires except the Slayer. Plus, they were distrustful of foreigners given the current political climate. But Xin constantly reminded them that fighting the forces of evil had no boundaries, and that they Slayer had been chosen from all walks of life.
Xin closed her eyes as she listened to the monks chanting. It reminded her when she used to work on her family's farm. She used to hate the sun's intensity. Then, the Watcher's Council visited her village, and told her parents that she was a Potential. Xin heard the stories during her childhood, but it was something akin to tales of the Dragon King. Could it be that all of those supernatural stories were true? No sooner did the Council arrive that Xin's life changed overnight. She bid goodbye to her family, and traveled to Beijing where she was to be trained. Xin worked tirelessly to master weaponry and self-defense. She spared with men that were twice her size, and she felt like a feather whenever they made contact with her. She nursed her bruised body at night, wondering if she was ever going to be the Chosen One.
And then, it happened when she turned fifteen. There were dreams of course, but it wasn't until she awoke that Xin felt the change. Her body felt indestructible. When she did her sparing exercises, Xin kicked the men all across the room. It was then that the Watcher's Council made the formal announcement. With Xin's newfound abilities, it was obvious that the prior Slayer was no more. Despite her good fortune, Xin did think for a moment about the prior girl. Who was she and how did she die? Was she also from a small village that Xin was from?
The monks finished their chants, and exited the temple before sundown. The incense was still alit for the battle that was to come. Xin devised a plan. If Xin couldn't leave the temple's grounds, she could lure the vampires to her. She sent a message through a companion that was fluent in English. He had connections in the supernatural circle, and the ill-reputed demons always gave warnings about the Slayer to any newcomers.
As the hours passed, Xin could hear the looting and commotion outside. It had to be tonight that she eliminated the vermin. Xin was sure that there was going to be a war, and she didn't trust whatever intentions the foreign vampires had in store. She didn't want to take the risk of them escaping, and possibly infecting others to build an army.
With her sword by her side, Xin prayed at the Buddha image one last time. The sword, welded and blessed by Buddhist nuns, had a blade that could wound a vampire indefinitely. She could hear his footsteps. She listened for other vampires, but it sounded like he was alone.
She glimpsed her enemy, and couldn't believe his slightness and long hair. She was expecting somebody a little more dignified, and less…intoxicated. He also had a pungent smell that likely came from the female vampire he cavorted with. He still towered over her, however, so he had a height advantage.
"Well, well, well," said Spike, "I finally get to meet a Slayer."
Xin couldn't understand English, but she could hear the mocking intonations.
"I've been wandering this bloody country for something exciting. This rebellion is too posh for me, but when I heard you were in town, I had to see a Slayer for myself," said Spike, "You don't look so tough if I may say so myself."
Xin was tired of the man's incessant talking. She got into a tai chi pose—careful not the loosen the stake in the folds of her red outfit. She had the name of her late father embroidered by her heart.
"All right, so it looks like you're ready for a scuffle," said Spike, "Show me your best, love."
Xin rushed forward with her sword. She had a promise to fulfill.
The vampire proved to be more agile than Xin expected. Not long after she cut him with the sword, he managed to pry it away from her (with his legs of all body parts). They traded a few blows before she finally had him pinned against the wall with one leg. She had her stake ready for the kill, but a thought crept into Xin's head: Should you find the locations of the other vampires before killing him?
An explosion shattered the window behind her, and Xin dropped her stake. She panicked for a moment as she tussled with the vampire. Should she go for the sword and hold him off? Or should she find her stake to finish the slaying? She decided upon the stake, but couldn't find it for a moment in the dim light. She found it, but the vampire wrestled it out of her hand. She backhanded, and just as she finally grabbed the stake, he managed to get the upper hand and sank his fangs into her neck.
"Tell my mother I'm sorry," said Xin. She was sorry for being so careful about her actions. Had she learned to let go, and embrace her abilities, she might have lived longer.
The vampire said something in English again that Xin didn't understand. It was better that way. He might've uttered something that would've stung Xin's very soul.
