A/N: I don't usually put stuff like this in the chapters, but I think this needs to be said. I've been getting grief about my Buffy/Lillith by a reviewer, and so I need to point out something. Buffy is NO LONGER the hero. She has just spent 300 years in nothing but survival mode, and she's merged with one of the strongest Old Ones there was. She is not the Buffy that disappeared that night. She continues to protect humanity due to who she was, not who she is, but rest assured that if it comes down to her own survival or that of her loved ones versus the fate of humanity, humanity CAN and WILL be sacrificed without a moment's regret. Three centuries of non-stop fighting for her life has successfully weaned her off that self-sacrificing BS indoctrinated into her by Giles and by extension, the Watchers Council.

And now, back to the story.

Chapter Ten

Edward woke up to pain and disorientation. It took him several minutes to recognize the human shuddering next to him, watching him feed. Pulling his head away, he tried to speak, to demand where he was and what had happened to him, but all that came out were piteous moans. He realized with horror that his tongue was missing.

"Oh, hey, man, I am glad you woke up." Willy smiled weakly, leaning over him. "The guys have been demanding answers since we found you last night. You were completely drained, and your tongue was on the ground beside you. They wanna know what happened and who did this. This is one of the patrons from the blood den on the other side of town."

Edward took the wrist into his mouth once again, and continued to feed. His mind was fuzzy, and he knew that he needed to feed to clear it. There was something important he knew, but he had to be able to think clearly to remember what it was. At the moment, all he could remember was agonizing pain, cat-like amber eyes and a threat of torture and madness if he killed. He jerked away from the wrist in his mouth. A thought drifted through his mind just as he lost consciousness once again.

'...spread the word, Sunnydale has been Claimed...'

Willy sighed, massaging his temple wearily. He did not like the way the wind was blowing these days. First the Scourge and the Slayer vanish, then his patrons come in with stories of an unknown power that they can't pinpoint. He liked to know what was going on in Sunnydale, if only to know who he should and shouldn't piss off. He knew that another Slayer had shown up in town, just like he knew that someone had bought the Crawford Street mansion that had been owned by Angelus. Word was that all of Angelus' money and property had recently been claimed by Buffy Summers, but he knew that was impossible. She was the Slayer that had disappeared the same time as the Scourge, and with the appearance of the new girl, she had to be dead. There had been a few rumors that there was more than one Slayer now, but that was impossible. A new Slayer was called when the old one died. That's the way it was since the beginning. What could change that?

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Mr. Trick glanced briefly at the 'Welcome to Sunnydale' sign as they passed it and sighed. He supposed that he should be eager to be this close to a Hellmouth, but to be honest, he saw no advantage in opening it. The way he saw it, it was better that humans didn't believe in vampires and demons. It made them much easier prey. Unfortunately, this is where his employer wanted to be. All because of that damn Slayer. Sighing again, he reached for the intercom.

"Yes, sir?" His driver answered.

"Take me to the hotel, then go to the real estate agency in the morning. I want to be in a proper house by tomorrow evening."

"Of course, sir."

Hanging up the phone, he pulled out a PDA to check the list of contacts that he had been given. After he got settled in the hotel, he would visit the bartender, Willy. Beyond that, the list was irritatingly short. "I hate small towns. Give me a nice metropolitan city any day."

At they drove down the main road, he glanced out of the window in time to catch a glimpse of a pretty female coming out of her house, staring at the car as it passed. "Well, small towns aren't all that bad."

Callista watched the car until it turned the corner. She sensed the vampire inside. He had to be nearly a century old for her to sense him so clearly. New arrivals that old were either there for the Hellmouth, or to make preparations for the arrivals of someone or something worse. For now, she had other errands to run. She drove across town, checking on the Slayer on her way as her Mistress requested. Entering the seedier part of the town, she went directly to the demon bar and asked for the bartender.

"Yo, Willy!" One of the patrons yelled. "Somebody wants ta see ya!"

Willy came out of the back room from checking on the vampire once more, he leered to see the pretty thing standing at his bar, looking so out of place that he wondered how she even knew of his bar. "What can I do for you, sweetheart?"

"My mistress has taken over ownership of this 'establishment'." She handed him a folder. Opening it, he gasped and paled, drawing the attention of several other patrons. "She has, in fact, taken control of Sunnydale. A vampire was left here as a warning to those who would gainsay her. She has declared that there will be no unauthorized killing."

"Your Mistress?" A more human-like demon scoffed. "Who would that be? And why didn't 'she' come here herself?"

"You are not worthy to be in her presence." Her voice was filled with scorn. Some of the demons jumped to their feet, pissed, but Callista stood unafraid, reaching for the charm around her neck and pulling it off. Instantly, the demons felt the aura of the one that protected her, so intense that even Willy could feel it. A gurgling scream echoed from the back room as the wounded vampire recognized that power even in his unconscious state, and reacted instinctively. Many of the patrons knew Edward. Not necessarily powerful, he had used his cunning to survive, staying out of the path of more powerful Masters and Slayers. They had been waiting warily for information of what had left him in the state that he'd been found in. From the panicked sounds he was making, it seems to have found him, or at least, sent an envoy. Smiling sweetly, Callista turned her back to them and wrote her cellphone number on a napkin and handed it to the terrified bartender. "My Mistress wishes to be informed of any stranger that comes into town, no matter the reason. Disobedience will be punished. Severely. The vampire was merely to get your attention. The one she will use to prove her point will not be so fortunate."

She turned and left the roomful of stunned, open-mouthed demons and hybrids. She turned down a different street from her own house and made her way to Crawford Street. She believed in and trusted her Mistress, but she had cared for Sera since the girl was a small child, and Mala, her Matriarch and closest friend, had entrusted her only daughter's well being to her, as a result she felt the need to check on her. Becoming the Mistress' Pet was physically, emotionally and mentally demanding, and Sera had lived freely her entire life. She needed to be watched over and cared for even more so now, for her sake as well as the Mistress'. Mistress 'loved' her Pets, as much as she was capable of 'loving' anything that was not her mate, and if she irreparably damaged one unnecessarily or unintentionally, it would affect her adversely.

She felt the first of the wards several blocks before she was even in view of the house. It was merely a detection ward, and any not intimately attuned with the Mistress' power would not be able to sense it. The second ward was just as subtle, but much more powerful. It explained why she sensed no other demons in the nearby vicinity. They would shy away from the area without even realizing it. The last ward was much more defensive than the first two. She sensed enough power within it to kill. The Betrayal had left her Mistress very wary, and combined with the Slayer's knowledge of the majority of the demons in Sunnydale, Callista was surprised that she did not simply eliminate those she considered a threat and start from there. She suspected that it was the Slayer's influence, however unintentional. She could not imagine the effects of a merging a Pure Demon such as the Mistress with a human soul.

As she got out of her car, the door opened to reveal a slender redhead. "Hi, I'm Willow. Buffy asked me to let you in. She's in the den."

"Hello, I am Callista." The Na'Gash introduced herself. She followed the girl through the house. Buffy was sitting in a plush chair with Sera kneeling at her side. The girl was working on her classwork.

"How did it go, Calli?" Buffy asked.

"They have been appropriately warned." Callista reported. "The vampire was there, but from the sounds, I do not think he had recovered to give anyone your message. Therefore, I had to improvise and give the message myself, stating that you had left the vampire to get their attention."

Buffy thought about that for a moment, consulting Lillith, then nodded. "It probably works out better that way. If we are willing to do that just to garner attention, what would we do to punish transgressors?"

"That is what I implied."

"Good, and Willy?"

"He was sufficiently terrified. I do not believe that he will hesitate to make the call should it be necessary."

"Perfect." Buffy smiled. "Well, you've met Willow, and later you both will meet the rest of the Scoobies. Other than Willow, the only ones that you need to worry about is Faith, the Slayer, and my mother, whom you will meet tomorrow during dinner. Giles is a Watcher. He will have questions, about you and me. You may answer any question regarding the Na'Gash, but you will tell him nothing about me or Lillith. That includes your positions with me. All he needs to know is that you both work for me."

"Buffy, don't you think he deserves to know?" Willow asked as Callista nodded her understanding.

"No." Buffy answered firmly. "The only reason you know the truth is because you have free reign of the house and could walk in on us."

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Trick walked into the demon bar with a faint look of disgust. He hated being forced to frequent such low-class establishments, but this bartender was the best source in this small town. He knew where to get just about anything, and who to see about getting the rest.

"Whaddya have?"

"O Positive." Trick answered. "The fresher the better. I also need to talk to Willy."

Willy jerked slightly. "What...?" He cleared his throat nervously. "What do you want with Willy?"

"Information and the occasional odd job." Trick said carefully. "Payment is generous, and rejecting my offer is not advisable."

He looked everywhere but at the dark-skinned vampire in front of him, desperately trying to think of a way out of this situation. "What kind of information are you looking for?"

"What happened to the House of Aurelius? Who is in charge now, and where can I find him?" Trick fired off. "My Master has business here, concerning the Slayer, and I don't want any local problems."

"Ah, well, the Aurelius clan is gone. The last Slayer took out Angelus just a few months ago, and disappeared at the same time." Willy admitted. He thought carefully about the next answer, realizing that he could tell the absolute truth without flinching. "I don't know who the new guy in charge is."

It was true. He knew that someone had taken the reins, he just didn't know who it was.

Trick nodded thoughtfully. "All right then, what can you tell me about the current Slayer?"