Chapter 9

Oz

Daniel Osborne (19) was curled up on the floor, naked and asleep. His hair was ginger now, the long grey hair that covered his body had drawn slowly back into the flesh a little before dawn.

I tossed his passport back onto the pile of his belongings, and poured a cup of coffee from the stove I had set up out of pure boredom. Alice had left to warn the family and see what the best plan of action was regarding our tresspasser.

When I waved the mug under his nose, the boy startled awake. When he looked at my face his eyes went wide and clawed himself back up against the tree.

I sat, looking at him.

"You're a vampire." He said.

"And you're a werewolf. Think Frankenstein's Monster will be rocking up soon? I should probably make more coffee."

He looked about, confused or perhaps looking for an escape route.

"Why are you not killing me?" he said.

"Well, for starters, I am trying real hard to be a vegetarian. But I gotta be honest, you smell like a mix of wet dog and dead skunk. I would rather eat dirt. No offense."

"Believe me, none taken. Uh… Vegetarian?"

"Family in-joke. We just eat animals- strictly no humans." I say. "I am guessing the fact you chain yourself up during a full moon means that you don't like to eat people either."

"Yeah. But purely for moral reasons."

"Good. I assume you don't take sugar or milk since you don't have any packed. Here." I say, offering the coffee once again to the naked boy.

He took, cautiously.

"So, the sun is… kinda doing the whole... thing where it is 'up'." He said.

"Perks of being a vegetarian." I said. "Why are you here Daniel?"

"Oz. My friends call me Oz."

"Why are you here Daniel?"

"I came looking for a way to control the wolf. On my journeys I heard of a local tribe who had many legends regarding wolf shape shifters.

I came to see if it was true. I was hoping they maybe could, maybe give me some information. Do you know them?"

"I know if you ask them, they can't answer."

"Is this some zen koan type deal?"

"Not really. Look, I am in the whole 'can neither confirm or deny' sitch regarding The Quileute legends. But I can point you to someone who can take you to someone."

"That would actually be awesome. Anything is better than the whole lot of nothing I have so far."

"Look, there is an artist in town. A metalsmith. Her name is Leah Clearwater. Tell her Buffy sent you. Then tell her you need to talk to the old guy with the cool silk tie and the good coffee. That should do the trick. Then tell her you are a shapeshifter and you need help."

"That's… huh. Okay".

I count the important points out on my fingers. "Buffy. Old guy. Silk tie. Good coffee. Got it?"

"Yeah. Think she will help?"

"Honestly? She will probably try to kill you. But that's just Leah. She is kinda grumpy."

He gave a little 'huh' expression and sipped his coffee.

"But when you do see her, don't tell her I am here. Or what I am." I said, making little fangs with my fingers to clarify.

"And maybe tell her... you met me somewhere on your travels... and that I say 'hi'... and that I really am sorry. And it was magical and I will always treasure our time together. And... to move on... And."

"Okay." He said as he sipped his coffee. "Sounds to me like maybe you two need to sit down and talk through some stuff."

"Avoiding it." I sighed. "How do you know about… what I am?" I made the little fangs gesture again.

"My town is kinda overrun by vampires. It's like, its whole thing."

"Overrun? What do you mean?"

"They basically run the place. School had a pre-sundown curfew. Every day someone else would go missing. The cops are on their payroll. The mayor too. Vampires everywhere."

"How many?"

"I don't know. At least twenty, thirty, maybe more."

"How is that possible? What are they eating?"

"Us, mostly. Rumour is there is a factory too. Processes people from all over."

"Where?"

"Sunnydale. California." He says. I feel a twinge of terror.

1630 Revello Drive

Sunnydale, CA

"Oz, I think you need to come with me."

…

"Yeah, that's Willow Rosenberg" Oz said, looking at my drawing. "We went to high school together two years ago but she got turned early in her first year. She is one of The Master's favorites. Really dangerous. The vampires all fear her."

Oz looks around the room nervously. The family are all gathered around, standing in that awkward way of ours.

"Is that the correct nomenclature? Should I say 'undead American' or…"

"Vampire is fine Daniel, please continue." Carlisle said. "Who is The Master?"

"They just call him The Master." he said. "Never seen him."

Oz points at Alice's drawing.

"That's the guy from The Bronze Massacre in '97. That was the start of the trouble. I think his name was Luke. But he is dead. Dusted by the Whitehats." He says.

"Whitehats?" Rosalie says.

"The resistance. If you don't mind I don't want to talk about them."

"Understandable." Carlisle says. "And probably for the best. Please go on."

"I don't know who that is." He said pointing at the broken glass image.

"I do." Alice said. "That's Angelus." She leans into me, sliding her hands around me for comfort. I kiss her forehead and squeeze her tightly. If he is still around, I pray I get to meet him.

"So I gotta ask." Oz says. "What are you gonna do with this info. The town is in a bad way as it is."

"Carlisle, my mom Joyce moved to Sunnydale." I said. "We have to do something."

"Well, from what young Daniel here has told us, I would say House Aurelius is not only grossly violating Volturi law, they are raising an army of newborns."

"A declaration of war." I said bitterly, remembering Aro's invitation.

Carlisle nodded.

I sigh. "Why is it the words 'collateral' and 'damage' are floating through my head right now."

"Speaking of law." Rosalie said, jabbing her thumb towards Oz.

"Oz isn't human" I said. "He doesn't count, so long as he keeps his mouth shut." I met his look and gave him a forced little smile.

"Daniel, you have done the right thing in informing us. I hope we can help your town. Thank-you for your time." Carlisle said, offering his hand to Oz. The young man stands and shakes it. I turn to the family.

"Oz here wants to talk to the Quileute people about his… condition. Could someone maybe drive him into town to visit Leah Clearwater?"

"Of course, it would be my pleasure" Esme says warmly. "Do come this way, Daniel."

Oz turns to everyone, nods awkwardly and gives a little wave. Then he looks back at me.

"Buffy. Old man. Silk tie. Good coffee." He says.

"And Ixnay on the angfay." I add.

"Right. It was a pleasure meeting you all."

"Here, I'll bring your gear." Emmett says, lifting the huge backpack effortlessly and following them to the door.

I look back at the table. Rosalie has written beneath the pictures.

Willow Rosenberg (2yo)

Luke (deceased)

Angelus (?)

I growl at the latter.

Alice lets out a breath as the sound of Esme's mercedes starts up.

"Can we pleeeeease open some goddamn windows now".

…

An hour later I was sitting on the roof of the house, looking out over the lake.

Alice understood I needed some time alone, and I suspected she did too. She had her own demons to wrestle. Or Angels, as the case may be.

I could see her in the distance, sitting down by the lake, skimming stones.

I had managed to push Joyce and Charlie both into a compartment of my mind during my stay in Volterra. No, perhaps it was when I was penning the letter that would destroy them both. But that compartment was open in me now, like a Pandora's box.

As little as either could express their love for me in a way I deemed suitable, I knew they loved me.

They would have grieved. No, they would be grieving. Charlie would have hunted for me, heading into Canada on weekends again and again. Calling local authorities, organising searches. Did he think of me everytime he had to walk past my old red truck, sitting in the driveway?

And Joyce, alone and in a new town, hearing of her only daughter's disappearance. Fearing the worst. How does she cope with all the emptiness and guilt?

I had no idea what a stake into my heart would feel like, but I imagined it felt like this.

I had to agree with Carlisle about contacting the Volturi. As cruel as The Volturi are, they kept us secret, kept our numbers down. What Oz was describing in Sunnydale was a massacre- pure bedlam compared to the controlled evil of Volturi rule.

Besides, I thought that collaboration with the information Alice and myself had gained would perhaps go some way towards mending any strain my creation made between The Volturi and our coven.

I had two families to protect now.

Regardless, I needed to get Joyce out of Sunnydale. And do so without breaking Volturi law, or her heart any further.

…

"How do I do it?" I said as I approached Alice. "How do I get to be around humans like you do at school?"

Alice looked at me with a confused expression, that then hardened. She tossed the stones down and stood.

"You aren't going to Sunnydale." She said, firmly.

"What I have to do is see Charlie and Joyce. I have to say goodbye properly. Otherwise it is gonna eat me alive for the rest of my life."

"Buffy-"

"What Diana made me do... what I did to them, was cruel. They need closure. I need to give them closure."

"Buffy, you cannot reveal what we are. You will never age. You were always going to have to vanish."

"I need to say goodbye, Alice."

She set her jaw, but I could see her eyes take on that glossy look that was our closest thing to tears.

"It takes practice and time." she said.

"Well, we better get started" I said. "because there isn't much time. There are Voturi levels of shit heading for the Sunnydale fan."

"Promise me you won't do anything stupid."

"Alice, it's me we're talking about. Of course I am gonna do something stupid." I say with a grin.

Alice sighs.

"Okay, but I am booking an official "I told you so"." she said.

"Duely noted."