Slayer Gothic 3
Part 10
Outside Sunnydale.
It had been a long night. I still hadn't recovered from Thanksgiving, and that had finished a couple of days ago. I was on my back from LA where I'd been meeting my demon layer, a good one not someone linked to Wolfram and Hart. I'd recently turned 18, again, and that had changed my legal status. It had involved a lot of paperwork, and had all been very dull.
What wasn't dull was what suddenly happening I hit the brakes just as a running figure froze in the middle of the road. I had just enough time to identify the runner as Angel before the vamp rolled over the hood of the car with a frightening *crunch* of impact.
If I'd had the time I might have wondered what might be out there nasty enough to make a master vampire of Angel's power take off like a bat out of hell, but since I didn't think I time for that I just jumped out of the car, while gripping my sword, before rushing to the still vampire's side.
"Angel, Angel! Are you all right?" I asked, while dropping to my knees by the vampire.
The somewhat friendly vampire was curled up on his side, motionless as a-well, as a corpse. Just as the I was about to try picking the vamp up so I could get him into the car, the things that had been chasing Angel through the woods broke through the trees.
They were Dogs. Big dogs. Not normal dogs. They had an otherworldly nature to them I didn't need my Slayer senses or the itching of my magical markings to tell me that.
Just beyond the pack, riders in all sorts of armour, who were mounted on horses came to a stop before. The riders were all armed with swords, axes, maces and spears, and none of them looked at all happy.
"Mortal, you have struck down our quarry in the midst of our hunt," said the a humanoid figure who must be the leader.
He was a figure in black with silver deer antlers on his helm, and a mask which hide his face completely. He wasn't human, he was the right shape, but his voice wasn't right and while I overcame the feeling quickly I was for a moment scared of him.
"I sense you are a warrior" the leader was now saying "So I give you a chance. Leave the vampire, and we will allow you to depart in peace."
In truth I didn't much care for any of the undead, but Angel was important to the future, he had, and could save a lot of people. Plus I had no idea how that whole Jasmine thing would work out if he was dusted. Sure the PTBs might bring him back, but I couldn't rely on them do anything.
"How about you leave the vampire, and and we depart in peace?" I offered.
Two of the dogs nearest Angel and snarled, and inched forward, only to hop back when Angel suddenly got up and showed his game face. Then he shouted something at the riders in what sounded like Gaelic. The Celtic language was native to Great Britain and Island, and I knew a few phrases, but it wasn't Welsh he was speaking, he was speaking Irish Gaelic that was centuries old. As such it made no sense to me.
"Uh Angel" I said "What the hell did you just say?" I asked
I was concerned because until now the riders hadn't looked as they were concerned, more annoyed. Now they seemed upset.
"Errr I told them that I was under the protection of the Slayer, and that your the Slayer" Angel told me "But they know the Slayer is suppose to a young woman. I tried to explain, but there isn't a old Irish term for alternate universe, so I then told them that your a might warrior equal to the Slayer, a demon hunter. They're not demons in case you were wondering".
Now that he'd mentioned it they didn't feel demonic, this was something else, something worse.
"Play along, please?" The vamp muttered.
Maybe it would be possible to talk my way out of this.
"Alright," I whispered back "Tell me what to say".
These supernatural warriors must have some code of honour otherwise they would have attacked already. Perhaps they wouldn't hunt on another warriors territory or something like that.
"No let me do the talking" Angel insisted "Just don't move or attack them unless I say".
The vampire then spoke to the warrior, in English this time.
"My Lord, and you hunt here without My Lord's consent" he said "And you hunt someone who is under My Lord's protection".
Well I was sort in charge right around here. I had the mayor under my thumb I certainly was the strongest warrior around, and I had other fighters and magic users under my command. Maybe they would respect that.
"Then guard him well, mortal, for this is not over yet. By Ash and by Thorn, I swear it," The leader said in a cold, deadly voice.
Then turned his horse around, and his horse took him back into the woods. The remaining hunters called off the dogs, and the riders trailed off into the forest, fading out of view. Before long even the sounds of the barking dogs could longer be heard.
Who were those guys, anyway?" I asked.
They were like nothing I'd seen before, even if they were clearly hunters of some sort.
"I'll explain when we find Buffy and others" Angel replied "Its a long story and I don't want to tell it twice".
(Line Break)
Giles's Residence. Sunnydale.
Since my place was demon proof, it made sense to go to Giles's new place. It wasn't warded in anyway as I hadn't gotten around do doing it. Thankfully he invited Angel in without fuss and soon the vampire was resting on the couch.
My watcher hadn't returned to town, and anyway I doubted he would have invited a vampire into his home. This was a shame because he'd taken the Slayer Scythe with him so the Watchers in London could figure it out. Hopefully they'd return it soon or I'd have to go fetch it.
"Angel? What happened to you?" Giles asked as while baby's Momma went to make some phone calls "You look like you were hit by a car".
Wow that had been a good guess.
"I hit with my car" I told the Watcher "But only because he ran into the road. He was being chased by supernatural warriors of some kind. Mixed bunch different weapons, different kinds of armour, but they all roads horses and they had odd dogs with them".
Willow was the first to arrive, living close to Giles's new place.
"I'll get the First aid kit," Willow said, before she scurried off to find it.
Then more people got here. Driven over by Tara who'd past her test, and was driving my jeep.
"I'll heat up some blood," Tara offered, and disappeared into the
kitchen.
At roughly the same time, Buffy raced into the room, followed by Amy. No one else came. Faith and Fred must be otherwise occupied. Fred could be at the Factory, Faith might just not care.
"Apparently Spike was attacked by" Giles started to explained "what did you say he was attacked by, besides your car?"
"YOU HIT ANGEL" Buffy yelled.
This sadly woke the baby Giles junior. The little guy most likely had a proper name. I'd just not bothered to learn it.
"Buffy shhh" Giles requested.
She was still glaring.
"Not my fault. Something was chasing him" I protested.
Buffy then turned her attention to Angel.
"What was chasing you?" she asked.
The vamp visibly shuddered.
"The Wild Hunt" he asked,
Buffy looked blank, then looked at Giles, who looked rather like someone had just kicked him in the chest.
"Oh dear" he said.
For him that was like swearing. We were in trouble.
"Translation?" Buffy asked.
Giles fetched a book.
"In the Peterborough Chronicle, there is an account of the Wild Hunt's appearance one night, beginning with the appointment of a disastrous abbot for the monastery, Henry d'Angely, in 1127" he said.
Which meant nothing to anyone, but Giles read anyway.
"Many men both saw and heard a great number of huntsmen hunting. The huntsmen were black, huge, and hideous, and rode on black horses and on black he-goats, and their hounds were jet black, with eyes like saucers, and horrible. This was seen in the very deer park of the town of Peterborough, and in all the woods that stretch from that same town to Stamford, and in the night the monks heard them sounding and winding their horns"
He then put the book down.
"There are lots of stories, so I'll summarise. The Wild Hunt is a European folk myth involving a ghostly or supernatural group of huntsmen. The hunters may be either elves or fairies or the dead, no one is sure and the leader of the hunt is often a named Hern, although other names have been given" Giles told us "Which may mean he has many names or the post of leader has changed hands".
He had more to say.
"Seeing the Wild Hunt was thought to presage some catastrophe such as war or plague, or at best the death of the one who witnessed it. People encountering the Hunt might also be abducted to the underworld or the fairy kingdom, no one is sure because people take don't return to tell the tale. In some instances, it was also believed that people's spirits could be pulled away during their sleep to join the Wild Hunt".
Giles cleaned his glasses, never a good sign.
"A few things the Watcher's Council do know is that the Wild Hunt are not demons" he told us "They destroy demons they come across, but demons avoid them, and no because they want to protect the innocent they don't want any predators competing with them. Oh and they loathe vampires, they will hunt vampires, chase them for miles".Which explained why they'd not attacked me. I hunted demons, they might see me as being equal to them, or at least worthy of some respect."How come we haven't seen them till now?" Buffy asked.
"Or read about them in all the Watcher books?" Willow asked as she started to patch up some of Angel's wounds "I've never heard of the Wild Hunt".
Giles coughed.
"Well because we know so little, no Watcher has made a proper record of them as far as I know. If it weren't for the Slayer Lucy Hanover who encountered the Wild Hunt in Virginia in the year 1865 I might think them a myth" the Watcher informed us "What happened between Miss Hanover and the Hunt we don't know".
He went for another book.
Lucy Hanover was a Slayer active in Virginia during and immediately after the American Civil War (approximately 1864-1866)" he said.
Giles did some reading.
"During her first year as slayer, she disappeared with her lover Erl King Hern the Hunter during the Wild Hunt for three weeks" he told us "But that's all its says on the subject. It goes on to mention that in Virginia, in 1866, she heard that widows of the Civil War were turning up missing. The disappearances stopped when she set up camp in a graveyard".
Giles closed the book.
"Her Watcher's diary was never recovered so that's all we know about her" he finished by saying.
There was more to discuss.
"What was all that about 'my lord's consent, and my lord's protection'?" I asked Angel.
The vampire by now had a warm up of that I hoped was pig's blood. How Tara knew there was some here was a mystery. Maybe there had some magic spell involving blood the Watcher had been prepared for.
"I don't know much about the Wild Hunt" Angel admitted "But I know they have great respect for the Slayer, your almost like royalty to them".
Buffy was surprised.
"What, I'm like a princess, or something?" she wondered.
That was going to go right to her head.
"In a sense," Angel interjected. "Though this had not always been an advantage. The Hunt might respect the Slayer, but this doesn't mean they'll simply go away, and things may get worse. Likes Giles mentioned the accounts are conflicting, but should the Wild Hunt come to Sunnydale rather than staying out in the woods, we could face attack by dark fairies".
Now Buffy was amused.
"What like evil Tinkerbell?" she asked.
No one was amused.
"Real fairies are mischiefs at best" Giles warned "At worst babies will be...".
He looked upstairs to where Jenny was no doubt giving his son a late night feed.
"Damien please ward this house in anyway you can" he requested.
That seemed like a good idea. My house should be safe what with the baby nature god or goddess tree in my back garden, but the rest of the town wasn't so secure. And since the Wild Hunt wasn't demonic I couldn't be sure of even that.
"People might even join the hunt, if they have a connection to magic and are looking for an escape, runaway basically" he was now saying.
Angel was now sitting up.
"Doyle had a vision" he told us "That's why I came here. I was looking for something in the woods, Doyle didn't see it clearly, but he did see Buffy and Damien fighting what I know now to the be the Wild Hunt".
That didn't sound good.
"I heard stories about the Wild Hunt when I was a child living in Ireland" Angel went on to say "The old women they would say that when the Hunt rode anyone who looked upon them and didn't look away would have their soul stolen. I don't think they'd be able to take mine, but if the Hunt does ride if you hear horses don't look at the window or they'll take your souls".
Assuming Doyle's visions were always true Buffy and I would face the Wild Hunt sooner or later, and if they were taking souls when riding then it would be best to attack them in their camp.
(Line Break)
As Herm rode, the other Huntsmen rode. And as they rode they stole: souls. They rode past houses with windows open, or children still awake and when they were seen then they stole their souls. Later they ran through forests and woods, chasing mythical creatures and they stole their lives for sport.
But when they finished riding, no matter what they stole or where from, they all returned to the same place.
The lodge.
(Line Break)
Forest. Outside Sunnydale.
"I am the Erlking, the King of the Alders, I ride in front of the Hunt, and steal the souls of children" the creature declared "I have come for you, the Slayer who is a man, to ask you to join us".
Well this was unexpected. I'd come looking for fight, not to join up.
"You want me?" I asked.
The Erlking's stag helmet dipped forward as he nodded.
"Strong I will make you, so no more will you fear death from illness or disease, or ageing. Come warrior. Come with me" he said.
At this point I was surrounded by about thirty hunters, and while I was armed and armoured these weren't good odds. Also something was messing with these woods. Buffy and I had gotten separated.
That whole immortal thing did appeal, and on some level I found the idea of spending the rest of time as a hunter appealing as well, but I had life here in Sunnydale. If I'd wanted to live it I could gone to any number of worlds.
"I have three daughters" the Erlking casually mentioned.
Oh now I saw where this was going.
"Come with me and I spare your town" the Erlking offered "And free the Lady Summers".
Crap they had Buffy.
"Okay I'll come with you" I said.
If only to free my fellow Slayer. Then I'd figure out an escape, and maybe kill the Erlking too.
(Line Break)
Somewhere Else
When I woke, I was on the ground, resting on a bed made of moss.I struggled to sit up; I wasn't in pain, just disoriented.
"Where am I?" I asked
A woman who looked like elf, who wear furs that didn't cover up, smiled and giggled a bit while helping me up.
"Why, the Hunting Lodge, of course! Where else?" she said.
For a mere Hunting Lodge it was an impressive sight. It wasn't just one structure either there were many wooden buildings. I was reminded of a time I'd seen a replica of a Viking lodge. Also this place was rather pretty lots of flowers, there was a nice stream, plenty of trees. Not a bad place to live forever. Only it didn't quite seem real.
Maybe there was something wrong with my eyes? I examined my own hands and clothes. No, it would seem that whatever magic that had affected these people had yet to touch me. They remained otherworldly looking were as I looked well wordily. However they were elves so that was to be expected.
"What is your name, child?" the lady asked.
I found myself smiling, despite my situation.
"Damien" I told her.
She looked shocked and slightly suspicious of my response, perhaps she sensed it wasn't my real name, but there was no way I was going to give fairy folk my actual name. That would give them power over me, of that I was certain.
The expression was short lived, however, and her smile brightened and she made a beckoning gesture.
"Sisters, sisters!" she called, "Come and meet Damien"
The next thing I knew, I was surrounded by two more pretty ladies. Soon I was standing, trying determine exactly what was happening to me, while also being bothered by elves. Not the kind like in the Forgotten Realms, these ladies seemed more alien yet still attractive.
"I do not mean to be disrespectful, ladies" I said "but I wish to meet the man who brought me here. Do you know him?".
They all started to giggle.
"He wants to know if we know him!" a girl cried gleefully. "Boy, do you not know of whom you speak?"
I was a bit confused.
"He is the Erlking" one of the fairy ladies said "Our father"
Now it was all coming back to me. Buffy had been captured, I had to find her and get the frell out of here.
"You don't like our father do you?" one of the ladies asked.
I did not.
"It takes a certain kind of evil to kill a baby" I said "And your hunt killed three".
Which why I wanted to kill the Erlking.
"He knows what he is," she replied, "and makes no apologies. He is proud of his darkness. And he wants you to be just like him".
This surprised me.
"Me? But why?" I asked.
This elf, the blond one, spoke again.
"The king sees something in you. You are special, and he senses greatness in you. He does not need another lost soul as a hunter. He wants a prince, a second in command. He wants you as his heir."
That is when one of the girls emerged from the group and took my hand. Not giving me any time to process what I had just heard.
"Stop frightening him, sisters," she chided, "Come boy… come and dance with me!"
I simply followed the lady. She was the most beautiful of the sisters-with long, black hair and expressive eyes of a colour I could not describe-and I felt the strangest little tug in my chest, urging me to follow her.
She took me to a clearing and began to dance, her sisters joined in.I could not bring myself to dance, though. I merely watched. Perhaps another man would find it erotic as it was, I found myself drawn by nothing more than strong curiosity. Maybe it was because I knew that their kind was dangerous, even their dances might be deadly.
I do not know how much time passed as I stared at the dancers, but at some point I felt a soft hand on my shoulder. It was the blond sister.
"What is wrong, child… er… Damien" she enquired. I wondered why she had such a problem with my name. "Why are you not dancing with the others?"
"I apologise. I just… I do not feel much like dancing" I said.
As entrancing as everything was, my concern for my fellow Slayer kept me distracted.
"Would you mind," I asked, "directing me to your father? He and I have some business to attended to".
"Such a little gentleman you are! But look…" she said, while pointing off into the distance, "He comes this way even as we speak."
As politely as I could, I approached the imposing man. He grinned as he saw me and moved forward to cup my cheek with his oddly cold palm. I took a step backward and swallowed hard. The man frightened me like no other could. But he had something of mine and I was not to be deterred.
"Slayer," he said, "how happy I am to see you again. Tell me, how do you like your new home? Is everything to your liking? I see that you have already met my daughters".
I nodded.
"Before we talk about them I need to see that Buffy is okay" I told the leader of the Wild Hunt.
He shook his head.
"First" he then said "let us rejoin the others. There is another I would like you to meet. She has the most beautiful voice you have ever imagined. Perhaps she will sing for us while the dancers rest their feet".
I didn't let the matter drop.
"But after?" I asked
"Of course" he replied.
The woman had a voice like no other. While the dancer had attracted crowds with her graceful movements, this siren drew even more with the song that she sung.
As with the dancer, I was not entirely immune to her charms yet I seemed to be able to resist them, unlike the others, who were lying on the grass, eyes closed as they listened to the music in a drunken haze.
"She is lovely, isn't she?" The Erlking whispered in my ear.
He was a little too close for comfort. .
"Quite," I answered succinctly, before changing the subject "So where is Buffy?
He shushed me.
"Shh, my child. There is plenty of time for that. For now, just relax and listen" he instructed.
This didn't appeal to me
"But I don't want-" I began to protest.
"HUSH!" he said again, not nearly as gentle.
His gold eyes flashed red. Clearly he was mad.
"I said later! You will be quiet and still and listen to the singing" he ordered "Do you understand?".
Amazingly I felt compelled to do so. If this was what it was like to be the presence of Alpha Male like myself no wonder so many did as I ordered them too. I however was nicer about it
"Y-yes sir" I said.
"There's a good boy" he said.
I think the music was meant to hypnotise me-to make me forget myself, but by the end of it I still felt uneasy here.
"Why isn't it working?" I heard an angry voice whispering.
There was a copse of trees nearby and I heard arguing coming from it. I looked around to see if anyone was watching, though I needn't have bothered, before sneaking off to listen closer.
"Don't pout, sister" someone said.
"How can I not? I danced and… and he didn't even care! Others follow my dancing into death and beyond. You know this… I have lured more men into the forest than anyone. And… that boy…he didn't care."
"That boy is no ordinary child" the other voice said "He's a Slayer, somehow".
This explanation didn't sooth.
"I don't care who he is. I hate him!" a girl shouted.
"Shh! Be quiet! Someone is coming" said another.
I ducked behind a tree as two of the Erlking's daughters emerged. I recognised the dancer as one of them and noticed that her cheeks were flushed and she looked rather indignant. Apparently I'd upset her.
With that in mind I figured it might be a good idea to get of this as soon as possible.
(Line Break)
Forest. Outside Sunnydale.
While I couldn't be certain I suspected that there was only so much time left before I became part of the Wild Hunt, and stopped being human. With that in mind I knew I had to make my move this very night.
The Erlking must suspect that I was planning something as he'd brought Buffy along on this hunt, not as hunter but as captive. The cage she was trapped shouldn't have been able to hold so I assumed there some sort of magic involved.
Also it seemed odd that he would treat a Slayer that way when he was suppose to respect us. Perhaps he was sign of how deeply he desired an heir. Not that I was going to take the job.
For now however I was playing along, I was riding with the Wild Hunt, on a horse that required no effort from me to ride. I had a sword in my hand, and I was following the Erlking as he led us after prey.
When I'd encountered the Wild Hunt in the forest, before surrendering to them, I'd noticed that their presence seemed to do something odd to these woods.
It was too easy to get lose, and I was seeing creatures that I'd never seen before. Centaurs, and other folklore come to life. At one point I was sure I'd seen a unicorn, but perhaps that had just been a horse lacking a rider. That or we'd somehow ended up in the Forbidden Forest close to Hogwarts, which I wasn't going to rule out.
With the Wild Hunt so focused on doing what they did best, which was hunting, I did what I did best, which was saving people from monsters. Normally I did this less than directly, but for once I was off to save the damsel in distress.
I peeled away from the Hunt and rode back to clearing were Buffy was under guard by two warriors, one who looked as if could have fought along side Genghis Khan, and the other could have been a a crusader in the 12th Century, clearly the Wild Hunt had been around for a while and had been all over the world.
The Mongol threw his spear at me, which was foolish as I just shifted my weight in order to avoid it. He'd disarmed himself for nothing, and as I rode past I beheaded the warrior, who didn't try to flee or scream. He simply expected this fate.
As for the Crusader, he was a different story. I had to abandon horse before he could slay my steed, and hitting the ground was not pleasant. Nor was having to roll over the leaves to avoid having my head caved in my a board-sword.
Thankfully I was more speedier and more nimble than a knight in armour so I was able to get to my feet, and soon I attacked him. Our swords met in battle, but while he was fine fighter, he was no Slayer as he sword was not equal to cutter. I took his life, assuming he was even alive. The Wild Hunt seemed to be made of ancient human warriors and elves, so neither group was mortal.
Before I could free Buffy, so that we could run for the hill, well actually the town, the Hunt came charging into the clearing. However they did not simply attack. Only the Erlking himself charged.
With regret I used my sword to dismount him, this involved killing his horse, and while it was an otherworldly creature, I didn't think it meant any harem.
I couldn't finish off the Erlking as quickly as I would have liked as falling off his horse barely slowed him down. The leader of the Hunt brought his Claymore out to me Cutter and we duelled.
When I moment to think I realised that since the Erlking had stated I was his heir that might mean we were fighting for the right to led the Hunt. Which would explain why no one else was getting involved.
The Erlking was a fearsome foe, and for a short time I really thought he was going to kill me, but while I had accepted death as part of being the Slayer, the human desire to survive is a strong one. I dug deep into myself calling upon my training to allow me to channel more of the Slayer power within me.
It worked, one moment it was an epic duel, no doubt very impressive for someone watching, and then Cutter was slicing through thin air, after taking off the Erlking's dead.
No one spoke as another Hunter dismounted and picked up the helmet of the Erlking, which was oddly empty.
"Take it" the Hunter offered.
I knew then and there that if I took this helmet, if I wore it I would be the Erlking, perhaps some spirit would possess me, or some magic would change me into something not human. I didn't want that I liked who I was, and while immortality did appeal there were other ways to gain it, ways that wouldn't require giving up who and what I was.
"No you have it" I said.
The warrior, a Viking if I was any judge seemed shock, but after a moment he accepted and placed the helmet on his head. There was no sudden transformation, but when he moved away from me his movements were noticeable different and seemed larger too.
When he mounted his horse, I realised that I was right, he was the Erlking.
"We will not come here again" said the leader of the Wild Hunt "Not for as long as I am Erlking".
That was fine by me, and fine with Buffy too judging by the hug I got after freeing her from her cage.
"Let's go home" was all I said to her.
We were just about to that, walk home hand in hand when, a dozen people, led by Angel, came bursting into the clearing. They looked ready for a war.
"Relax its all over" I assured them "I'll tell you all about it on the way home".
I'd never seen a group of people be do so disappointed about the lack of a fight. I really hung around with some strange people.