Part Four: The Council

April 2000

Traveling with a vampire across continents when time is of the essence proved very difficult for Darwin. Whereas a normal flight path from Japan to London would take approximately thirty hours or so—with two or three plane changes along the way—this journey took more than a week. Emily offered to ride in the cargo hold of the plane to save time, but he declined.

Still the trip had turned out to be somewhat educational for him as well. Along the way, they'd encountered several vampires and lesser demons prowling about. And Emily stepped up to the task, taking them all out with relative ease.

It reminded him of the old days when he and Isabel traveled the world taking out nests and covens. Naturally there were many differences with how the Slayer and the vampire fought. Isabel always moved with a flair and finesse to her style whereas Emily was strictly an offensive fighter not worrying about protecting herself during battle. Of course she was a vampire and the same injuries that might stop a Slayer wouldn't affect her quite the same way.

But she was very rusty and her skills needed some polishing. During their time trapped indoors by the day, he would give her some advice and even practice sparing with her. He wasn't in phenomenal shape, but he could manage his own and found her to be a very willing student.

"Perhaps, in life, you were a Slayer potential?"

"Somehow, I sincerely doubt that."

"That would make you the Vampire Slayer-Vampire."

That comment granted him a well-aimed pillow cushion to the face.

He had to admit, Darwin did enjoy their travels together. But now as he stood before a very familiar door, all that joyfulness transformed into agitation and fear. This could all go so horribly wrong. But the only alternative meant an absolute death sentence for Emily and he couldn't have that.

Therefore, with a heavy reluctance, Darwin raised a fist and rapt twice on the door.

Honestly a part of him hoped there wouldn't be anyone at home. Or maybe that there was a new family that lived there with no forwarding address. Darwin could apologize for the disturbance and leave London behind having tried all avenues available to him. Then again, he still had a conscious.

Locks clicked and chains rattled. The brass doorknob twisted and finally the door pulled back. An old man stood in the doorway looking rather disheveled, as though he'd been interrupted from something important and was very cross about it.

"May I help you?"

"Hullo, Philip," Darwin said, his throat dry and rough.

Philip's face went almost as white as his hair as he peered closer at Darwin from behind thick spectacles. "Darwin? What are you doing here?"

"I've come to talk to you. I have something very important to discuss with you and there isn't a lot of time. Lives are at stake."

"What are you talking about?"

"Please, Philip. Five minutes—that's all I need. And…" Now Darwin hesitated. "And there is one other thing I must ask of you. I need you to take a bit of a leap of faith for me."

Philip narrowed his eyes questioningly as Darwin turned to the dark shadows behind him and waved a hand. Emily materialized seemingly out of nowhere. She carefully moved to stand beside Darwin on the doorstep.

"I need you to invite my friend into your home."

The older man looked from Emily to Darwin and back again before withdrawing from the threshold in shock, further into the house. "That is a vampire?" he demanded, appalled.

Darwin winced at his tone. "It's not what you think."

"Darwin, have you gone completely mad? What are you playing at? Bringing a vampire here, to my home? Is this some sort of revenge you've got planned?"

"Philip, please, let me explain," Darwin implored, raising his hands up in a peaceful gesture. "She's not like other vampires. She won't harm you; I give you my word. Just let me prove it. Do you have a cross handy or some holy water?"

Philip stared at him in absolute befuddlement. "What?"

"If I use something of my own you won't believe it. Give it here and I'll show you what I mean."

With extreme reluctance, Philip reached into the pocket of his sweater and produced a small wooden cross. Darwin stretched out a hand and Philip, not trusting enough to leave the safety of home, tossed it at him.

"Now watch."

He nodded at Emily. She stepped forward and rolled up the sleeve of her shirt, exposing the flesh of her arm. Darwin pressed the face of the crucifix atop her naked skin.

When nothing happened, Philip's eyes about popped from their sockets. "What… how is possible?"

"Invite her inside with us and I'll explain everything." When the older Watcher still hesitated, Darwin moved closer. "Once upon of time you believed in me, Philip. There must be a part of you that still does, even just a little. You were like family to me, Philip; you raised me for the better part of ten years. All I'm asking is for you to trust me now. Please."

Something Darwin said seemed to get through to the old man because, warily, he focused his attention on Emily and said, rather brokenly, "I invite you in."

"Thank you," she replied politely stepping over the threshold after Darwin moved inside.

"Now, Darwin, tell me what sort of business you've been up to."

They moved to the dining room where Darwin told Philip everything he knew about K'Shahl's plans and the Ha'Shan that have been hunting down Watchers. Emily remained quiet in the background for the most part, standing on the opposite end of the room from Philip out of respect. Only chiming in with the knowledge she'd obtained about the Ha'Shan at Darwin's prompting.

In the meantime, Philip listened at rapt attention, leaving only briefly to make a pot of tea and absorb everything he'd heard. Other than that, he never interrupted or spoke or asked any questions at all, allowing Darwin to get the entire tale out. It took much longer than the five minutes he'd promised, but Philip didn't complain.

Once Darwin had concluded, Philip sat for a very long while, quietly sipping from his teacup. Darwin's own offered tea was sitting on the table, untouched. Philip hadn't offered Emily anything.

"Sounds like you've been through quite the ordeal, Darwin," he mused, brushing something off the front of sweater.

Hope and relief flowed through Darwin. "Then you believe me? You'll inform the Council of my warning?"

"Of course not."

Darwin frowned at him. "What?"

"Come now, Darwin, did you really think I'd believe such a fantastic tale? Now I don't know what your game is, but you'll not use me as a way to get back at the Council."

He couldn't believe what he was hearing. For years he'd always thought of Philip as a caring and understanding sort of fellow. Now, Darwin was overwhelmed with a strong surge of anger at the automatic dismissal. And he couldn't help, but feel… disappointed as well.

"I'm not lying, Philip! This threat is very real! The Council is in danger right now as I speak."

"If this is such an enormous threat then why are you the only one who's figured it all out? Surely someone at the Council would have noticed something."

"Not while the Council is in total chaos over losing hold of the Slayer."

Like Emily did before, Philip kept his expression controlled at Darwin's words. However, even after all these years apart, Darwin could still see right through the calm exterior.

"Don't you understand, Philip? The Council has never been more vulnerable in its entire existence before now. You can't take the chance that I'm right. And even if I'm wrong what's the harm? You beef up security for nothing? And you can lock me away for treason or whatever you like!"

For the moment, it honestly looked as though Darwin was actually getting through to Philip. His hard expression became more unsure, questioning.

Hope was rearing its ugly head again. "Philip—"

"Get down!"

A half second after Emily's warning, the dining room windows imploded, sending glass spraying into the room. Darwin fell back to the floor, hard, covering his face from the glass. He couldn't see where Philip ended up.

Five men in black rushed through the opening. Each one pulled out a small black device and aimed it at Emily who'd been stunned by the blast. A small popping sound burst from the devices and thin metal webs shot out, attaching themselves to Emily. She cried out in pain then dropped to the floor, spasming.

"Emily!" Darwin cried. He tried to get to her, but more men suddenly filed into the room, throwing him back down to the ground and pinning him down with a gun at the base of his skull.

"Don't stake it!" Philip ordered the men. "We need to bring it back whole."

A pair of metal handcuffs was slapped onto Darwin's wrists. A gruff voice was speaking to him. "By order of the Council of Watchers, I am authorized to place you under arrest."

The Enforcers. Philip must've called them while he was preparing the tea.

Roughly, the surrounding men hauled Darwin to his feet, keeping hold of him. Now he could see the first group wrap Emily in chains and half drag, half carry her down the hallway.

"Stop—let her go!" he cried out. "She's done nothing wrong!"

No one paid any attention to him. They did, however, slip a bag of some sort over his head and haul him out from the house and to the street. From there, he was shoved into what felt like the back of a van or SUV. A moment passed, then they were on the move.

It was his worst nightmare come to pass. He had no idea were Emily was—the space was far too cramped for her to be in the vehicle with him. He had hoped by coming to Philip with the information, he would be protecting her from falling into the Council's clutches. But he'd never expected Philip to outright betray him like this.

The trip was uncomfortable and long. The air tasted stale through the hood and the handcuffs bit painfully into his skin.

Eventually the vehicle came to a stop and Darwin was yanked out. Blindly, he was moved to and fro, up and down stairs, into elevators and out of elevators. Finally, the cuffs were removed and he was shoved forward. He tripped over something, barely catching himself against a cement wall.

Pulling the hood from his head, Darwin blinked rapidly against the sudden light and tried to get his bearings. He was in one of the holding cells reserved for criminals and enemies to the Council.

The door to the prison slammed shut and his darkly clad escorts exited the room, satisfied their task was complete. That left Darwin alone with Philip.

"Where is she? Where have you taken her?" Darwin demanded, gripping the bars that trapped him.

"The vampire is being taken to the laboratories for testing. We must determine how this creature came to immunize itself from crucifixes. We'll need to prevent other vampires from learning the secret."

Panic flooded Darwin's body. The labs were located in the lowest level of the Council Headquarters. The basement.

"Please, Philip, don't put her there! It'll destroy her! Have mercy, please!"

"Darwin, do you even hear yourself right now? It's a bloody vampire! A demon! And you're going on like it's a person."

He squeezed the bars tighter, imagining his hands around Philip's wrinkled throat. "You don't know her," he said darkly.

"No, Darwin, you don't see the golden ticket you've been handed."

That brought him up short. "What are you getting at?"

Philip glanced around then moved closer to the bars. Lowering his voice, he said, "Tell them you were bringing the vampire to me to turn over to the Council, but I called them before you could explain yourself properly. I'll collaborate your story. You might not be reinstated, but at least you won't spend the rest of your life in here." He gestured around them.

So Philip wanted Darwin to betray Emily to save his own skin. All these years, a small piece of Darwin had still always looked up to Philip as… maybe not a father, but a mentor. Someone who guided him and molded him into the man he was destined to become. But hearing him now, Darwin finally realized that, he'd outgrown Philip a long time ago.

"Go to hell, Philip," Darwin said almost tiredly, turning his back on the older man.

"You arrogant, insufferable fool!" Philip snapped. "If your mother and father knew what you've done—"

"If my parents knew of what I've done and found reason to be ashamed then maybe they weren't worth honoring."

Before Philip had a chance to respond to that, all the lights suddenly clicked off. Darkness filled the room for several long seconds before red lights sparked to life, casting everything in disturbing shadows.

"What—"

A blood-curdling scream interrupted Philips inquiry. It came from the door.

Bile crawled up Darwin's throat as he and Philip stared at the door. Below, the ground rumbled in a familiar pattern.

"What the bloody hell is going on?" Philip demanded, voice trembling.

"You remember that 'fantastic tale' I was telling you about?" Darwin drawled. "Well, you're about to have a staring role in the third act."