I walked to school the next morning, trying not to think too much about my battle with Dracula, as I did not want anyone to know how much it bothered me. I am usually quite good at hiding my true emotions, but, just in case, I decided to push it out of my head while I was at school. I had told everyone else who wasn't there what had happened already, and we were all going to meet up in the library after school to go over everything again.
I met Warren halfway there, and we walked the rest of the way holding hands. Today, I was wearing the white, red, and black pokemon hoodie he had bought me, a pair of ripped blue jeans, black boots, and my necklace, which I rarely ever take off.
After a few minutes, we arrived at school, and went our separate ways to our classes.
~~~later that day~~~
"Now," began Giles concernedly as we all were sitting around the table in the library, "tell us again exactly what happened during the fight with Dracula, and exactly what Spike told you afterwards about how he knew him, how he was able to do the things he did, and all of that."
"Very well," I wisely replied, getting to my feet and paising around the table. "First, Dracula created some sort of barrier, separating me from everyone else. He then said he was here because of the Hellmouth, and, more importantly, the one whose darkness rival his own, me."
"But you're not dark or evil," said Warren. "Believe me, I know."
"Thanks," I sweetly said with a smile before returning to my serious composure. "But, he said my darkness rivals his." Secretly, I sometimes wondered if I was a creature of the dark, doomed to sadness and lonliness forever, but I was always sure to hide those feelings.
"Anyway," I continued, "after that, we fought. It was the toughest fight I have ever had, but, for some reason, I feel he was merely testing me. I dusted him, and thought I won, but then, somehow, he was able to reform AFTER I dusted him."
"THAT is what scares me!" exclaimed Buffy.
"Me too," agreed Willow.
"Yes, I understand you concerns," I said. "After that, he turned into a bat and disappeared. Based off of that and the memory of Spike's that I saw, he seems to be able to shape shift as well. Finally, I revided Spike with my blood, and he explained that he has often encountered and had conflict of numerous kinds with Dracula over the centuries. He had initially thought that Dracula was here for him, before realizing it was most likely me and the Hellmouth."
"That's got to be rough," commented Oz.
"Yeah," I agreed. "Anyway, Spike says that Dracula gains his additional powers, on top of already being an ancient, powerful vampire, from some sort og gypsy magic."
"Well, hey, since it's magic, can't we find a counter spell for it?" enthusiastically asked Amy.
"I wish that were true," I sadly replied.
"My research indicates that it is a very ancient type of magic that has been lost for generations," added Giles. "No record of it exits anywhere, except to say that it was practiced in parts of Transylvania centuries ago."
"So, what do we do then?" asked Xander.
"That's what we need to find out," I replied. "He is literally stronger than everyone else we have ever faced. Not only that, but we seem unable to kills him."
"Is there a type of magic that we could use to not defeat him, but seal him away or something?" asked Marcie.
"The watcher council is looking into that, but it is unlikely that anything powerful enough to trap him exists," said Giles.
"Exactly," I said. "So we need to figure out where he is operating from, exactly what he is up to, and, if the opportunity arises, launch a sneak attack. Me and Giles need to look over maps of Sunnydale, but we'll be back in a few minutes." Me and Giles then walked into the back to look over the maps, trying to figure out where Dracula would be hiding.
"Why is Dracula coming for Erika?" wondered Oz.
"Yeah, I was wondering the same thing," said Willow.
"Well, she IS very powerful," said Amy.
"Yeah," agreed Buffy, "but that would make most demons stay away unless they wanted to be destroyed."
"He's an asshole," angrily said Warren. "he has no right to go after her…"
"Yeah," agreed Marcie. "Ever since her mom died about two weeks ago, things have been even harder for Erika."
"Erika's strong," said Xander. "Whatever happens, she'll make it and come out on top."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Just then, me and Giles came back in with a stack of maps. We layed them out on the table.
"We think, based upon Dracula's historical records, that there areas which we have highlighted are the most likely places that Dracula is hiding."
"Ok, cool," said Buffy. "There are three, so I guess we should divide up and go check them out?"
"Exactly," I said. "me, Warren, and Marcie will head to the caverns under the park. Buffy, Giles, and Amy will investigate the clcock tower where Oshirir was hiding before. Willow, Oz, and Xander will check the sewers."
Everyone agreed to the plan, and we all split up.
Me, Warren, and Marcie reached the park after a few minutes.
"Is there an entrance to the caverns anywhere near here?" asked Warren.
"Hmmm, I'm not sure," I said.
"Well, we have to find a way to get in!" said Marcie.
"Wait!" I exclaimed, pointing to some bushes. There was a small opening behind them!
We headed down into the dark cave.
"Wow, I can't see anything, and I'm pretty used to that kind of stuff!" said Marcie.
"Erika, can you make some light?" asked Warren.
"Yeah," I replied. I held up my open palm and said "Insinday Libra" to conjure a fireball, which provided light for us to see the caverns.
"Ugh, it is gross down here…" complained Marcie.
"Well, at least we didn't end up with the sewers like Willow, Oz, and Xander," I said to comfort her.
We wandered around for what seemed like hours, and, other than a few rats, we didn't see any sign of Dracula. Just when we were about to turn around and find our way out of the caverns, my heigtned senses, which were better than those of most, allowed me to hear some kind of faint noise.
"Do you hear that?" I asked Warren and Marcie, taking a few steps forward.
"Hear what?" they asked
Just then, as Warren took another step forward, the ground under his feet collapsed!
"Warren! NOO!" I screamed rushing to catch his hand. I got to him just in time and grabbed his hand as he was dangling into a giant hol in the ground.
"Nnngh!" yelled Warren, struggling.
Marcie was trapped on the other side of the hole, so she could not get over to where me and Warren were to help.
"Warren… Hang on!" I yelled, struggling to pull him up.
Just then, I noticed something out of the corner of my eye as I looked down into the hole.
"Huh," I calmly said as I focused on it. I then let go of Warren's hand.
"Auuuuggh!' he yelled as he fell. He clearly expected the fall to be much higher, but it turns out it was only ten or so feet. I had seen some sort of ancient gold coins on the ground, which is how I was able to tell that it wasn't too deep.
I then levitated down into the hole.
"Come on Marcie," I said, encouraging her to follow us. "Let's go this way." There was another cavern on this level, and we journied deeper into it.
After awhile, we noticed more and more artifacts.
"What do you think all of this is?" Marcie asked.
"I dunno," replied Warren.
After awhile, we found ourselves in what seemed to be the ruins of a building.
"How did all of this get here?" wondered Marcie.
"Probably in an earthquake it sank into the ground," I said
We walked into what seemed to be a type of ceremonial room.
"Woah, look at this place!" said Warren. It had very high ceilings, and the floor was made of different colored stones arranged in a pentagram shape. I walked to the center of the room. I could feel some sort of power here…
All of a sudden, I became light headed nad weak. I clutched my hand and tried to remain standing, but I just couldn't. The next thing I know, everything faded to black.
~~~later~~~
I woke up with all of my friends standing around me. I was in my bed.
"What happened?" I weakly asked.
"You fainted," replied Warren. "Me and Marcie carried you out, and then we called everyone else. Then, we all brought you here."
"Glad to see your allright," said buffy.
"Thank you everyone," I said, getting up out of bed. Then, I remembered what we had been doing. "Oh yeah! Did anyone ever find where Dracula was hiding out?"
Evryone sadly shook their heads no.
"Darn it,' I said. "Oh well. I guess we shall have to wait for Dracula to make the first move," I said with a look of determination.
"We've got to be prepared," added Xander.
"Exactly," I said. "Anything could happen next."
A?N: It's pretty much my summer vacation right now, so I will be able to write more often. I hope to have at least one or two chapters up each week. I am also trying to write my power rangers story some, but it is a lot harder to write than buffy is. Anyways, next chapter I will introduce another main character, who will then be a part of the main group. Try and guess who it is in a review!