Author Note
This chapter ended up much shorter than I intended it to be, but I don't want to give too much away too soon, and I think adding another scene would just ruin its flow. Besides the next chapter is full of action which I think makes more than makes up for it.
Slayer Gothic - LA 2
Part 2
Caritas. LA.
Being such a fan of the show I knew a lot about this place.
Like how when he first arrived on Earth from Pylea a number of years ago the demon who would become know as Lorne set up Caritas on the very spot where he emerged.
Believing that anyone, whether good, evil, or 'morally ambiguous' could turn their lives around if given sufficient guidance, Lorne opened his business up as a sanctuary for humans and non-humans alike, even baby-eating demons were welcome. The only time he had ever banned anyone from the club was during an incident involving a group of drug dealers who were selling something called Orpheus, which was a really nasty drug.
As Lorne could see the auras and futures of people when they sang, people began coming to Caritas to sing for him in order to be told their futures.
The Host's 'no violence' policy was reinforced by a Sanctuary Spell cast by the Transuding Furies, rendering his customers incapable of any acts of violence.
"Is this safe?" Marcie asked me "There are lot of monsters in here".
That was true to some extent, but it was still too early for the place to be packed, and a few of customers were human so I wasn't worried.
"There's a spell here that prevents supernatural beings from committing acts of violence" I explained "However it doesn't effect humans, so the demons won't bother us".
I didn't know if would work on Slayers as our power came from something demonic, but since the monsters couldn't attack us it didn't really matter.
"So this nice demon can tell your future, but only if you sing?" asked Amy as we took seats at an empty table "How does that work?".
Really I had no idea, but I could hazard a guess.
"We I've heard of people baring their hearts when they sing" I said to the witch "Maybe its about opening up and expressing yourself".
My theory was soon confirmed.
"You got in one baby doll" said the Host with a smile on his face "All you kids have to do is get up on stage and sing your little hearts out. Then Uncle Lorne will put you back on your life's path".
Oddly no one was eager to volunteer.
"Come on!" urged the green skinned demon "You can go on stage one at time or all four of you can go as a group, it doesn't matter how you do it. Just pick a song".
It took me a moment to realise that he had used the word 'four' rather than the word 'three', and Marcie picked up on it right away.
"You can see me?" she asked.
Lorne shook his head.
"No sugar doll" he corrected "You remain hidden even to this eyes, but I can see your aura and it is beautiful. As for the rest of you well I know a Witch when I see one, and of course we've all heard of the cutest Vampire Slayer that ever was".
He paused for a moment to look me up and down.
"And you my friend are as much from out of town as I am" he said "I've never seen that colour of aura on a human before. I can't wait to see your future, even if it does give me a headache".
I got the feeling that he already knew seeing my future was going to give a migraine, but still he seemed eager to hear me bellow out a tune.
"Fine I'll go first" Marcie decided "Its not like anyone can see how embarrassed I'll be"
My invisible friend could play the flute so I knew that she had some musical talent, and when she got on stage and started singing I discovered that she wasn't the shy girl she had once been. Also I discovered that Amy wasn't such a bad singer herself, and that Buffy was, for reasons I didn't want to know, a fan of the Backstreet Boys.
The Host took his time when talking to each of the girls, and I noticed that sometimes this involved pointing at me. Also there was a lot of giggling, which in my experience was rarely ever a good thing for a guy.
"So what was all that about" I asked the ladies when they returned to the table "Did you find out what you are meant to do with your lives".
This caused more giggling.
"Let's just say that demon guy has a way with words" Buffy reported "And I don't want my love life to suck".
That was not very helpful.
"And that we don't have to rush into anything" Amy then added "and its way better than spending years as rat and then getting hooked on dark magic. Way better".
Marcie just laughed some more.
"Okay I'm going to go sing" I told the scary females "Try not to get drunk while I'm gone".
Lorne was not willing to sell booze to teenagers, but he wasn't above giving it away for free it seemed, so I soon had the Dutch courage to go up on stage.
I'm going to take my time
I have all the time in the world
To make you mine
It is written in the stars above
The gods decree
You'll be right here by my side
Right next to me
You can run, but you cannot hide
Don't say you want me
Don't say you need me
Don't say you love me
It's understood
Don't say you're happy
Out there without me
I know you can't be
'cause it's no good
I'll be fine
I'll be waiting patiently
Till you see the signs
And come running to my open arms
When will you realise
Do we have to wait till our worlds collide
Open up your eyes
You can't turn back the tide
Don't say you want me
Don't say you need me
Don't say you love me
It's understood
Don't say you're happy
Out there without me
I know you can't be
'cause it's no good
I'm going to take my time
I have all the time in the world
To make you mine
It is written in the stars above
Don't say you want me
Don't say you need me
Don't say you love me
It's understood
Don't say you're happy
Out there without me
I know you can't be
'cause it's no good
Lorne dragged me off the stage once I was done, and poured us both a stiff drink before telling me anything.
"Okay first of all while its true I can't get drunk it turns out that tomorrow I find out what a hangover feels like so I am going to earn it" Lorne informed "but enough about me let's talk about you little old you".
That was why I'd come here.
"First of all you did the right thing by getting Miss Sunny off the Hellmouth" he told me "She would have died if she'd stuck around, and that would have freed the Master".
Which was something I had already known.
"Sure you could have done some CPR to bring her back" the host then said "but why risk it, and let's face it there are already two Slayers around we don't need a third going all darkside on us".
Yeah that would be good to avoid.
"Now you need to go back to Sunnyhell before Halloween" I was then informed "Because if you don't its the end of the world as we know it Kiddo. We'll have anime characters running around, and all sort of crazy stuff happening, but more importantly my theme night will be ruined!".
I vaguely recalled there being an impressive fan fic that told a story about a version of this world were Ethan Rayne's Halloween Spell got out of control and really messed up the world. I'd not read most of it because I'd had no idea who half the characters being mention were.
Yet I'd read enough of it to be worried now, and so I knew that Ethan Rayne could not be allow to cast that spell. Which in turn meant he had to die because even if I stopped him this Halloween he might just wait until next year and try again on another Hellmouth. There was one in Cleveland, and othes scattered over the planet. I couldn't keep an eye on them all.
"And then there is this" Lorne said as he wrote down an address on a napkin "I don't know why I saw this, but you and Miss Sunshine have to go there. The big guys upstairs don't normally tell me this much, so when they do its best to listen".
When I saw the address, and what was written next to it I understood exactly what I needed to do next, and I was more than happy to do it.
"My friends and I are going to need some fake IDs, and maybe some other things that are not so legal" I said to Lorne "Can you help with that?"
He was already writing down another address.
"This is a guy I know" Lorne told me as he slipped the napkin across the table "Now he deals with demons too, he gets those who pass for human set up in homes, and even jobs so don't judge".
I understood that were neutral parties in supernatural war going around us, and it didn't bother me.
"And there is another guy I know, he gets things that you can't just buy at the Kwicky Mart, if you know what I mean" the Host told me "And he buys things too".
Such a person, assuming it was a person, would be of great use to me.
"Now as for your love life" Lorne said with a big smile plastered on his face "You just wait and see".
I so didn't like the sound of that, and the Host picked up on my distress I figured as he soon poured me another drink.