Part V
"This is the only known drawing of Alyssa-the Immortal Slayer."
Giles' words struck Buffy like a gut punch. In spite of her often-expressed dislike for research, she spent a little time each week looking into the fate of the Slayers who had preceded her, memorizing names, faces, histories, and the fates that ultimately befell them. She had learned of over a hundred, and she had still only gone back about one hundred and fifty years. Kendra's dead face flashed before her again, and her voice was harsh as she turned to Giles and snapped, "No such thing, Giles."
There was a moment of silence, and Giles' face bore an expression of utmost sympathy as he replied, "In this one case, there is." He turned the diary to its beginning, and handed it to Buffy. She squinted, then began to read the diary's contents to the attentive group.
THE DIARY OF REGINALD DANVERS, WATCHER
April 10, 1567
I met Alyssa today. She is eight, and she is to be a Slayer, should that which is good choose to call her. She is tall for her age, and her physical skills are far beyond what is typical for even would-be Slayers. Even better, she is a bright child, and loves to talk about things that interest her. From what I hear, her family is noble, and they wish her to eventually enter a convent. Should she never be called, that is where she will end up, for she is quite pious and already knows the Bible from cover to cover (how strange, to know such a young girl who reads!).
Of course, she is too young to know of her possible fate yet, and thinks of her preliminary weapons training as simple amusement. . . yet, she is supremely gifted. I fear that I may someday have nothing to teach her, even before she is called! Well, that is not a problem yet. . .
June 27, 1574
Alyssa was called yesterday. How wonderful it was to see the flush in her cheeks as the true measure of her power entered her body! We were already evenly matched before she received the Call; now, I could not even slow her down with any weapon we cared to test. . .she laughed out loud as she easily bested me with my best weapon, the quarterstaff. Let the undead beware-Alyssa will wreak more havoc than any Slayer before her!
Buffy looked up and commented, "Looks upbeat so far. When does the Immortal angle kick in?" Giles looked over her shoulder, flipped a few dozen pages, and pointed. Buffy looked and began to read again . . .
August 23, 1578
My heart is heavy today: I feel that I may weep. Alyssa, my Slayer, the best hope of us all. . .is dead. I was helpless to prevent it. She fought Zaedorz, the master vampire, on top of a high cliff overlooking the Thames. As I watched, I saw her stake him, only to lose her balance and fall over a hundred feet into the river below. I ran over to the spot, hoping to save her, only to see her head violently strike a rock and her body be washed into the rapid current. I jumped in and swam furiously, only to see her recede into the distance without showing signs of life. I raged at the fickle fates that would take my Alyssa from me this way, but they ignored my ravings. Alas!
September 22, 1578
A thing so astonishing as to almost stop my heart has happened today. .. Alyssa is alive! I was working in my study, finishing the archiving process for the information we had accumulated during Alyssa's time as the Slayer to pass on to her successor when I heard a knock on the door. I opened the door and gasped in shock. . .there she was! Frightened, wearing torn and wet clothing, but she was alive!
She began to weep when she saw me, and I am not ashamed to say I wept also as I embraced her. I led her into the study, and she began to tell her story. She had woken up on the bank of the Thames, apparently uninjured but several miles down-river. She had wandered about for a while, confused, only to be accosted by a man with a sword who attacked her with intent to kill. She was forced to kill him in self-defense, breaking his neck. She noticed the wounds she received healed almost immediately, and was wondering about the meaning of this when the man apparently rose from the dead and attacked her again. She disarmed him this time and used his sword to decapitate him. A marvelous display of lightning then followed, which made her feel strangely empowered. At length, she left the area and came back to my dwelling.
"What has happened to me?" she pleaded, staring into my eyes with a pleading look. I knew, but I dreaded telling her. From her description, Alyssa was now one of the Deathless Ones. . .the Immortals. When I told her of her fate, and what it entailed, a look of horror entered her eyes. She wailed as if she was being burned alive. . .then she turned to the door and fled, ignoring my desperate pleadings to stop. I followed her into the night, only to hear her tormented wails fading into the distance. My anguish is without bounds. . .I know in my heart that I will never see her again.
Buffy looked through the last few pages of the diary, then looked up. "Okay, and he didn't." She looked at Giles with a puzzled expression, "What had her so freaked out? Immortality sounds fine by me, particularly in this line of work."
Giles smiled sympathetically, looking at Buffy and Faith with a sad expression. "For you and Faith, perhaps. But it wouldn't be perfect even for you. . .remember the Slayer code against killing?"
Buffy's expression turned from puzzled to pained as she remembered the terrible guilt she had felt when she thought she had killed that mom-fondling psycho Ted, even though he had started the whole thing. She nodded and replied, "I understand."
Giles nodded, noting with some concern that Faith seemed less disturbed, but deciding to overlook it for the moment. He continued, "It was even worse for Alyssa. She was raised in a sect of Christianity that completely eschewed violence against humans, although obviously it was willing to make allowances for demons. Being an Immortal doomed Alyssa to an existence where she had to kill over and over again in order to survive. It has had to be maddening for her."
Duncan felt compelled to interrupt. "Giles, the rules of the Game forbid combat on holy ground. Why didn't Alyssa just stay on holy ground, since she had no interest in the Game due to her temperament?"
Giles replied, "She tried. . .but there was another imperative driving her. She was the Slayer, after all. . . it was her sworn duty to slay demons, and not many stray onto holy ground. She would venture out to slay, and Immortals would inevitably find her. . .and die."
Duncan frowned and commented, "I have a contact or two in the organization that keeps track of Immortals. Perhaps they could give us some useful information about Alyssa." He went to the phone and dialed a long-distance number. He passed on the information to the party on the other end and waited for a few minutes before the phone rang. He picked up the receiver and said, "Okay. . .interesting. . .got it. . .thanks, Joe." Hanging up, he turned to the waiting group and reported, "Alyssa was last seen in Salt Lake City three months ago, and she was clearly moving west before then. It's got to be her."
Buffy interrupted, wondering what the problem was. "Uh, guys? What's the problem here? It sounds like she only attacks Immortals who attack her, and she definitely could kick some demon ass. If we can get her to stop pounding on innocent bystanders-" Faith snorted at this, provoking an amused grin by Buffy-"then why don't we just let her be?"
Giles' expression had shifted to one of extreme concern, and he obviously was considering his words carefully before replying. "The problem is that Alyssa has, for whatever reason, arrived at the place where the most dangerous demons in the world reside. Any of them would love to get their claws into Alyssa, for reasons that Duncan brought up in the story involving Angel." He cleared his throat, then continued, "Buffy, you have reason to know that the blood of a Slayer has a great deal of intrinsic power."
Buffy winced, remembering teeth in her throat and the gloating of the Master as she fell into the pool. "Yeah, I guess I do."
Giles walked over and put his hand on her shoulder as he continued, "Duncan's unfortunate experience with Angelus demonstrates that the blood of an Immortal also contains great power." He looked at the others to communicate the gravity of his words as he continued, "The power to be had from the blood of a Slayer who was also an Immortal would be. . .inconceivable, and also a renewable resource that could theoretically supercharge dozens, if not hundreds, of vampires or other demons."
Buffy thought back to the rather mediocre vampire who had pummeled her under the influence of Duncan's blood and winced. She got to her feet and paced, her mind racing furiously. She looked to Giles and burst out, "Wait! Who is going to stop her? If she could put down Faith that easily, what vamp is going to take her out?"
Duncan coughed and replied, "Buffy, any thug with a gun can put one of us down if they get the drop on us. Not a problem ordinarily, but if the thug is a vamp in the know. . ." He looked intently at her, reminding her of the incident in the park.
Buffy's face turned grim, and she started for the door. "Then we've got to find her before they do."
. . .to be continued
As always, comments are welcomed and desired.
"This is the only known drawing of Alyssa-the Immortal Slayer."
Giles' words struck Buffy like a gut punch. In spite of her often-expressed dislike for research, she spent a little time each week looking into the fate of the Slayers who had preceded her, memorizing names, faces, histories, and the fates that ultimately befell them. She had learned of over a hundred, and she had still only gone back about one hundred and fifty years. Kendra's dead face flashed before her again, and her voice was harsh as she turned to Giles and snapped, "No such thing, Giles."
There was a moment of silence, and Giles' face bore an expression of utmost sympathy as he replied, "In this one case, there is." He turned the diary to its beginning, and handed it to Buffy. She squinted, then began to read the diary's contents to the attentive group.
THE DIARY OF REGINALD DANVERS, WATCHER
April 10, 1567
I met Alyssa today. She is eight, and she is to be a Slayer, should that which is good choose to call her. She is tall for her age, and her physical skills are far beyond what is typical for even would-be Slayers. Even better, she is a bright child, and loves to talk about things that interest her. From what I hear, her family is noble, and they wish her to eventually enter a convent. Should she never be called, that is where she will end up, for she is quite pious and already knows the Bible from cover to cover (how strange, to know such a young girl who reads!).
Of course, she is too young to know of her possible fate yet, and thinks of her preliminary weapons training as simple amusement. . . yet, she is supremely gifted. I fear that I may someday have nothing to teach her, even before she is called! Well, that is not a problem yet. . .
June 27, 1574
Alyssa was called yesterday. How wonderful it was to see the flush in her cheeks as the true measure of her power entered her body! We were already evenly matched before she received the Call; now, I could not even slow her down with any weapon we cared to test. . .she laughed out loud as she easily bested me with my best weapon, the quarterstaff. Let the undead beware-Alyssa will wreak more havoc than any Slayer before her!
Buffy looked up and commented, "Looks upbeat so far. When does the Immortal angle kick in?" Giles looked over her shoulder, flipped a few dozen pages, and pointed. Buffy looked and began to read again . . .
August 23, 1578
My heart is heavy today: I feel that I may weep. Alyssa, my Slayer, the best hope of us all. . .is dead. I was helpless to prevent it. She fought Zaedorz, the master vampire, on top of a high cliff overlooking the Thames. As I watched, I saw her stake him, only to lose her balance and fall over a hundred feet into the river below. I ran over to the spot, hoping to save her, only to see her head violently strike a rock and her body be washed into the rapid current. I jumped in and swam furiously, only to see her recede into the distance without showing signs of life. I raged at the fickle fates that would take my Alyssa from me this way, but they ignored my ravings. Alas!
September 22, 1578
A thing so astonishing as to almost stop my heart has happened today. .. Alyssa is alive! I was working in my study, finishing the archiving process for the information we had accumulated during Alyssa's time as the Slayer to pass on to her successor when I heard a knock on the door. I opened the door and gasped in shock. . .there she was! Frightened, wearing torn and wet clothing, but she was alive!
She began to weep when she saw me, and I am not ashamed to say I wept also as I embraced her. I led her into the study, and she began to tell her story. She had woken up on the bank of the Thames, apparently uninjured but several miles down-river. She had wandered about for a while, confused, only to be accosted by a man with a sword who attacked her with intent to kill. She was forced to kill him in self-defense, breaking his neck. She noticed the wounds she received healed almost immediately, and was wondering about the meaning of this when the man apparently rose from the dead and attacked her again. She disarmed him this time and used his sword to decapitate him. A marvelous display of lightning then followed, which made her feel strangely empowered. At length, she left the area and came back to my dwelling.
"What has happened to me?" she pleaded, staring into my eyes with a pleading look. I knew, but I dreaded telling her. From her description, Alyssa was now one of the Deathless Ones. . .the Immortals. When I told her of her fate, and what it entailed, a look of horror entered her eyes. She wailed as if she was being burned alive. . .then she turned to the door and fled, ignoring my desperate pleadings to stop. I followed her into the night, only to hear her tormented wails fading into the distance. My anguish is without bounds. . .I know in my heart that I will never see her again.
Buffy looked through the last few pages of the diary, then looked up. "Okay, and he didn't." She looked at Giles with a puzzled expression, "What had her so freaked out? Immortality sounds fine by me, particularly in this line of work."
Giles smiled sympathetically, looking at Buffy and Faith with a sad expression. "For you and Faith, perhaps. But it wouldn't be perfect even for you. . .remember the Slayer code against killing?"
Buffy's expression turned from puzzled to pained as she remembered the terrible guilt she had felt when she thought she had killed that mom-fondling psycho Ted, even though he had started the whole thing. She nodded and replied, "I understand."
Giles nodded, noting with some concern that Faith seemed less disturbed, but deciding to overlook it for the moment. He continued, "It was even worse for Alyssa. She was raised in a sect of Christianity that completely eschewed violence against humans, although obviously it was willing to make allowances for demons. Being an Immortal doomed Alyssa to an existence where she had to kill over and over again in order to survive. It has had to be maddening for her."
Duncan felt compelled to interrupt. "Giles, the rules of the Game forbid combat on holy ground. Why didn't Alyssa just stay on holy ground, since she had no interest in the Game due to her temperament?"
Giles replied, "She tried. . .but there was another imperative driving her. She was the Slayer, after all. . . it was her sworn duty to slay demons, and not many stray onto holy ground. She would venture out to slay, and Immortals would inevitably find her. . .and die."
Duncan frowned and commented, "I have a contact or two in the organization that keeps track of Immortals. Perhaps they could give us some useful information about Alyssa." He went to the phone and dialed a long-distance number. He passed on the information to the party on the other end and waited for a few minutes before the phone rang. He picked up the receiver and said, "Okay. . .interesting. . .got it. . .thanks, Joe." Hanging up, he turned to the waiting group and reported, "Alyssa was last seen in Salt Lake City three months ago, and she was clearly moving west before then. It's got to be her."
Buffy interrupted, wondering what the problem was. "Uh, guys? What's the problem here? It sounds like she only attacks Immortals who attack her, and she definitely could kick some demon ass. If we can get her to stop pounding on innocent bystanders-" Faith snorted at this, provoking an amused grin by Buffy-"then why don't we just let her be?"
Giles' expression had shifted to one of extreme concern, and he obviously was considering his words carefully before replying. "The problem is that Alyssa has, for whatever reason, arrived at the place where the most dangerous demons in the world reside. Any of them would love to get their claws into Alyssa, for reasons that Duncan brought up in the story involving Angel." He cleared his throat, then continued, "Buffy, you have reason to know that the blood of a Slayer has a great deal of intrinsic power."
Buffy winced, remembering teeth in her throat and the gloating of the Master as she fell into the pool. "Yeah, I guess I do."
Giles walked over and put his hand on her shoulder as he continued, "Duncan's unfortunate experience with Angelus demonstrates that the blood of an Immortal also contains great power." He looked at the others to communicate the gravity of his words as he continued, "The power to be had from the blood of a Slayer who was also an Immortal would be. . .inconceivable, and also a renewable resource that could theoretically supercharge dozens, if not hundreds, of vampires or other demons."
Buffy thought back to the rather mediocre vampire who had pummeled her under the influence of Duncan's blood and winced. She got to her feet and paced, her mind racing furiously. She looked to Giles and burst out, "Wait! Who is going to stop her? If she could put down Faith that easily, what vamp is going to take her out?"
Duncan coughed and replied, "Buffy, any thug with a gun can put one of us down if they get the drop on us. Not a problem ordinarily, but if the thug is a vamp in the know. . ." He looked intently at her, reminding her of the incident in the park.
Buffy's face turned grim, and she started for the door. "Then we've got to find her before they do."
. . .to be continued
As always, comments are welcomed and desired.