Note that if I don't get the Spanish right, that I haven't had a class in it for four years.
Part 4A
The Characters San Salvador, Peter Withers, and Charleson, who have active parts in this section, belong to this author.
*San Salvador*
The paintball thing was spiteful and practically useless, but it was a fun thing to do in order to humiliate the vampires. I decided that since I overheard them talking about the fact that I wasn't dead, I at least make them feel insecure.
The next day: I lean into a defensive stance in the gym about 8:00 in the morning. With only four hours of sleep, it took a little more effort than usual to properly wake up. I was feeling a little blurry around the edges. My feelings quickly sharpen up as I quickly move through my exercise routine. Strikes, punches, kicks and motions quickly became smooth and sharp motions. The only thing I wish I could use my sword in my practice but someone could just walk in. And the place that I had found, I haven't been able to moved in yet. The place is a one story house that I bought outright. It was worth over 100,000 dollars and located about a mile outside of Sunnydale. The place has a two car garage, three bedrooms, and a bathroom on the first floor and two bedrooms and a bathroom on the second. I'm planning on setting up a dojo and my apartment on the first floor and my guest rooms on the other floor.
Later -
Buffy came out of 1st period and headed toward the second. She had 10 minutes to get there so she spent five of them talking to Willow and Zander.
"You have to wonder if San did anything foolish last night?" Willow said quietly. "She was teaching her first period class today. Unless she tries to go after Angel between classes, she all right this morning," Buffy said.
"Fighting the forces of evil is definitely an after-school activity." A smooth voice says. San comes up to the trio. "I finally got a house to stay in."
"That's good."
"I've got to return a few books to Mr. Giles. I sort of, well. . .improperly. . . borrowed three of his books."
"You stole them." "Hey, I didn't want you to know what I was after and anyways, I was planning on returning them when I was finished. At most, that was filching."
"But back onto the subject of my new home. I'm sort of worried about the security of my house. Do you know anything that can prevent vampires from entering a house if they've had an invitation? The Realtor said that the previous leaser disappeared about a month ago. If he just got eaten by a demon or something, I wouldn't worry. But if he's a vampire now, I don't know if he can enter the house now but I can't take the chance if he can." "There is a spell to revoke an invitation. We can set it up for you." "Thank you so much. I'm moving my stuff in today and even though I want to fight vampires, I don't want to live with them."
The first class bell rings, "It would be a good time for us to get to class, wouldn't it people." Snyder says, "You're on your last chance, Mrs. Summers. It would be my greatest pleasure to expel you from this school." "Don't worry Principal Snyder," San speaks gently, "If Buffy is late, she'll be helping me arranging and moving the P.E. equipment for the next week or researching for my early lectures for that week."
"It is good to see a teacher actively disciplining students in this school. Keep it up, Mrs. Robbins." He turns and walks toward his office. San mutters softly, almost too softly for Buffy and her friends to catch it, "Este hombre Synder esta un asno y un Hitler poco de ese escuela." She smiles tightly. "What did you say? I know it's probably Spanish but I don't know it." Xander was curious.
"I basically called him an ass and a little Hitler." Buffy, Xander, and Willow stare at San for a minute before chuckling a bit. San looks at her watch, "We've got about thirty seconds to get to class before we're late. Let's run." Buffy beats her by two steps and San steps into to the gym just as the bell rings.
*San Salvador*
"You were kidding about the moving the P.E. equipment, right San." I gave her my best blank face, "It's good exercise for you. I figure you can move the weights today and work on the gymnastic pads tomorrow." I manage to keep that straight face for about three seconds because breaking up laughing.
"You want to joust again? I'm tired of beating up Giles." "He trains you?"
"Yes."
"That English guy must be pretty good fighter."
I move in toward Buffy in a classic attack posture and she counters. She's getting better but so am I, surprisingly.
I wanted to say something that was bothering me to Buffy. "Your still hurting about Angel's turning to evil, aren't you?"
"It hurts a lot."
"This is why I'm taking him down and not you." "How do you know you can take Angel on and win?" "Hate is a clearer emotion than love, which you still have with Angel. Revenge is a good motivater." "Not always." "It is enough for me. Don't interfere with me or else." That night:
San gets up about one hour after sundown and puts on her new blacksuit and black thigh boots. Over that she puts her leather jacket on. Her sword and other weapons were put in their respective places. After a minute's thought, she puts on the silver cross necklace that John gave her. She did this with a hint of sadness as she remembers a happier time and place with John.
San drives into town and stops near the Bronze. While it is a bit of a distance from the warehouses, it is a reasonable safe area considering the town she's in. She starts walking though the park in an indirect path when she feels the Buzz. ( No, not now. Not here of all places. ) She takes off her jacket and unsheathes her sword and places it in a one-handed grip slightly behind her back. After a minute, a tall man with a saber in hand walks out of the shadows. ( About 150 years old. ) San thought. It was her talent and curse. She can feel the age of other immortals with around a 90% accuracy. That talent also makes her real sensitive to the Quickenings. When San has gotten Quickenings, she has been knocked out soon afterwards for about ten to fifteen minutes unlike other Immortals, who only feel woosy if they aren't seriously hurt by the fight. That is one reason why she has only 11 quickenings in 50 years.
"My name is Charleson and I'm here for your head."
"This is the worst possible time and place to do this. It would be better if we did this in another town and at another time. I can probably set a time in my appointment book."
"You have no choice in the matter. I'm issuing a challenge to you and this is not holy ground. Accept or I cut you down where you stand."
San sighs, "My name is Sandra Salvador and I accept." She brings her katana up in a rapid slash. Charleson blocks it and counters with a quick slash from left to right. San dances out of the way and counters the counter. The two immortals were so engrossed with their fighting, they didn't notice the vampire audience.
"Should we grab both of them or just wait for whoever wins?"
"The one who wins, stupid. I'm surprised someone hasn't dusted you yet."
San knew she was in deep shit. Charleson was a better than she is tonight. San was able to barely hold her own head on her shoulders. She couldn't keep on going much longer due to deep cuts in her leg and side that are freely bleeding.
"Your head is mine, Salvador," Charleson said. ( Arrogant bastard. ) What would be his weakness? He would go for her stomach. A nasty gut wound would double her over and he would gloat some more before taking her head.
San left her stomach open for a bait attack. He took with with a slice across. With a slight jump back, she missed some of it, enough to not seriously hurt her. The pain is bearable as she kneels down.
"That was easy," Charleson says arrogantly. "This is the reason why no women will come close to the Prize. Women are too weak and pathetic with the sword." He raises his sword.
"There can only be one." San turns a bit, flicks her wrist and a throwing knife embeds itself in Charleson's throat. He falls down gurgling and drops his sword. San gets up slowly and picks up his saber.
"It won't be you though," San sweeps Charleson's sword down and beheads him. She starts stumbling away as the Quickening's mist surrounds her and it's lightning starts hitting her. The electricity causes every fuse within a block to blow out along with the windows nearby. San screams with pain and a bit of pleasure as the Quickening picks her up slightly and spins her slowly. She passes out almost immediately after its over. The last thing she saw was dark shapes coming toward her.
Part 4B
San Salvador's Notes:
I wake up by a kick to my ribs. ( Not a nice way to wake up. ) The next thing I notice is my hands handcuffed to a pole. I struggle a bit and then give up after a moment.
"Well now, look who's awake." After a moment, I recognize the voice. Angelus. I decide to keep silent even though images of the uses of rusty knives on the vampire are going through my head.
"So, I'm just wondering, how does a human come back from the dead twice and cause a lightning storm?" He gives me a couple of kicks in the ribs for the apparent sadistic pleasure of it. I change the image of the rusty knife to a spoon.
I decide that silence is the better part of valor but a low growl came out anyways. Standing up might be a good first step in getting out. My arms are handcuffed high and behind my head.
"What are you, damn it?" "Angelus, once I get out of here, I'm going to remove your privates with a rusty spoon before tearing out your lifeless heart with my bare hands."
"Why, you stupid bitch. I'm going to. . ."
"What? Kill me." ( Okay, smartass response. )
"No. But I'll make you wish you were dead." I lash out with a kick that grazes him. Angelus backhands me and I slip back down to the ground. "I'll come back in a few minutes with a few things that will be more appropriate for our conversation."
Angelus goes to the back of the warehouse and the rest of the vampires go wherever they go. I sit there for a minute and think of options. I don't have any lockpicks on me or any weapons besides my bare hands. I look over to the side and see my weapons on the table. That includes my sword, both of my wooden knives and Charleson's sword. The only thing I can think of will be quite painful but quick. I grab my left thumb with my right hand and yank hard and dislocate it. Ignoring the pain, I fold the thumb inward and slip my hand though the handcuff. The other had I can deal with my lockpicks. I stand up slowly and relocate my thumb. ( Shit. It hurt even worse. Hopefully, my healing will fix it quickly. I'm weak and tired from the Quickening and the temporary death. Just get my things and get out. )
I put on all my weapons and ignore the pain in my thumb. I only kept out my wooden knives for other vampires and walk toward the door. I realized that the only way to get out would be to get past Angelus. I stay in the shadows and see three vampires. Angelus, a raven-haired vampiress, and a blond vampire in a wheelchair. They are arguing about something but all I could tell was that the blond vampire really doesn't like Angelus and is really jealous of the fact that Angelus and the female vampire are real close. Angelus and the female vampire stalk past me with several instruments, most likely for the use of my torture. "Going somewhere, Ducs." Spike, if I remember correctly. "Yeah. I forgot my housewarming gift for you guys. I'll be going now." "Really, and why do you think I'll be letting you go?" "One is that unless your faking your injury, you can't stop me. Another is the fact we both want revenge on the same vampire." "Good points," Spike says. I grimace a bit and say softly, "Shit, I've not felt so bad since Woodstock." It wasn't meant to be heard but Spike heard anyways. "You went to Woodstock, too." "Yes, If you want to get together sometime, I'll be out in the park for at night for at least the next month. Leave with your Drucilla soon. I'm going to kill every vampire I can get ahold of when I recover. If you prefer not telling Angelus, it would be good for both of us." I run out the front door to the sounds of footsteps and angry exclamations.
I am slightly more than angry at the general vampire community. The hatred, anger and need for revenge is burning me up. As she jogs through the streets of Sunnydale, I see a church coming out of the fog. With over twenty vampires on my trail, it is the best place for a bit of safety. I run up to the door and starts pounding on it. "Please help me, help me." The heavy door creaks open.
"What do you need, my sister?" A priest is standing in the doorway.
"I need someplace to be safe for tonight and tomorrow." Several shapes come out of the fogline. Vampires. I start pulling out my sword. "Don't fight. Come in. You have sanctuary against the demons for tonight. The priest speaks some Latin that I don't understand. I back into the church. The vampires run up and slam into an invisible barrier. "This place is protected by God, Leave, now." I can recognize a voice of power when I hear one. Who are these priests?"
I walk down the halls of this plain yet strikingly beautiful church. "Well now, Sandra, why are you here?" How did he know my name? Something is really strange about this. "It is a safe place against those vampires that are after me." "Your jeep is closer than this church. Besides one comes to church for God and for forgiveness. What do you need to be forgiven for?" "It is none of your business, Brother." I fairly spat out.
He is calm, "If you wish to speak to God, the altar is always open and I am awake for most of the night. There are some cots in the back if you want some sleep and extra shirts in the dresser if you want to change." He walks toward the altar. At this point, I'm fairly annoyed. I go back to the cot to lay down for some sleep. I strip off my bloody clothes and try to fall asleep. This is something I cannot do. I toss and turn for an hour before getting up. I make up my mind, put on the clean shirt, which comes down halfway to my knees and silently walk to the sanctuary. I walk in and kneel at the alter. The priest ignores what I'm wearing and continues praying. I'm not even sure he noticed me coming in.
*LATER*
Sandra finishes praying several hours later. There are a lot of things she feels that she should ask for forgiveness. She went back to her cot and fell back asleep. When she woke up it was morning. In fact, it is school time but she feels that is necessary to stay here for closure. San calls Principal Snyder and told her that she was pretty sick.
"I think that have that twenty-four hour bug that is going around," she said. "You should be glad that the superintendent supports you. If he didn't, I'd drop you in a hot minute." ( That arrogant bastard. ) San thinks and he hangs up on her without any polite good-byes. She hangs up the phone and walks toward the priest that gave her sanctuary. "Thank you for helping me, Father. . ." "Brother Roberts." "Thank you. I'll just let myself out." "If you want to . But if you want to talk, I'll be here all day."
"That would be okay with me. Let's start with how you know my name." "God." "Of course." "You who are Immortal and fight vampires, you don't believe in God?" "Honestly. . . Wait a minute, how do you know all about me?" "God, or course." ( I'll leave that at that. ) San thought. "I try so hard to fight the evil in the town but I just can't beat it."
"The anger at your loss is clouding your mind and your heart. Why are you fighting the vampires?" "They are evil and must be dealt with." "Why, again?" "They killed my fiancee, John." My voice raises higher. "Any in particular," he said quietly.
"Angelus. You know him too." "A tortured soul. He is trapped within a body with the demon in control. "Unless you are fighting the vampires to fight the evil and for love instead of revenge, you will eventually lose yourself to evil." "Then what should I do?" "Help the Slayer and deal with Angelus when the right time comes. And be what you are in your heart, what is God's Will." "What is God's will, brother?" "You will know when the time comes. Your past was preparation for this and the past month was the tempering for yourself. Let God choose what form you should have."
*Later*
I look at the mask that I once had gotten in Rome a decade ago and kept it around for no particular reason. It was the sort of flat hard mask that would be used in some acting for Roman shows. I decide to keep it simple and keep it plain. I find a black cloak with hood . I put on my third black body suit and look at myself in the mirror. I then took off the mask and made an adjustment in it. I have some special miniature red nightvision goggles that are only a little larger than eye goggles. I hooked it up with a battery pack on the neck support that I turned off the lights and turned on the nightvision. I see the white mask with the red glowing eyes. "Awesome," I say in a whisper. I know I would never use the costume, but parts of it would be useful in coming days
A few hours after, I find Buffy going about her rounds in the park. She jumps back several feet at the sight of me and I say, "Hey Buffy, its me, San."
"Nice costume."
"I tried to take out Angelus last night." I got directly to the point.
"Is that why you didn't teach class today."
"Yes. I got thrashed in a fight against another Immortal. I won but I got captured by the vampires. I managed to escape and got sanctuary at a church for the night."
"Whoa. Are you going to try to kill Angelus again?"
"Yes, Someday I will."