I walked the streets of Galway not knowing really where I was going, only that I needed to find some sort of peace in my mind. All of my thoughts flying around in my head, questions trying to find answers I am not sure I knew, it was becoming tiring and even a little painful. I was confusing, but hopeful that this confusion I found myself in would soon be cleared up. If only that little man would tell me more about what it was I was supposed to do, whom I am supposed to become. It was then that I felt him, not the confusing little man in the strange hat, but the picture of perfection I had seen the previous night. He was watching me, I didn't dare look at him because if I did I would never be able to keep my distance, which is what Whistler told me I had to do for now. I would get my chance later, but for now I had to stay away because if I did not I would mess up my destiny. If I had known for how long I would have had to keep my distance and watch this creature I would have punched him in the nose then, but hindsight is always 20/20.
Whistler approached me then, for some reason I could feel him coming too, almost like my senses had some how gotten better since the night before. He approached knowing what was going on that I was avoiding looking at the man that I fell in love with the first time I saw him. He made some comment that I found to be irritating even though I wasn't even listening. I looked at him ruefully and said, "Hello Whistler, I was hoping we would run into each other tonight." He looked at me and I almost thought that he might have even looked a little sympathetic but you never can tell with him, I probably just imagined it. He told me that I would get to see more of him tonight and that made me smile. Then we walked off leaving him to look at the spot where I had been standing. I knew that he stayed there for few moments then walked off presumably to the tavern.
I proceeded to prod Whistler about what my new direction was, and when would I start on my new path to finding purpose. He told me that I had already found my purpose. He then regarded me with a look that even after all this time I still don't know exactly how to describe, it held a little bit of sympathy, some pride, and even some worry and he said, "Your destiny is that of the Protector" I remember that, I have never forgotten when he told me that. Hearing what exactly I was, what I chose to become, has stayed with me ever since. He then explained to me what the Protector was. I didn't understand a lot of it, but in retrospect it does make a lot of sense.
That night was the night that I found out that the things that go bump in the night actually exist, and I was to protect one of them. There has ever only been me. If you understand the lore of the slayer then you would understand a little bit about what I do. It doesn't exactly help that I have seen a few slayers meet their death, which saddens me. I couldn't do anything to help them, that one girl every generation. She fights evil every night and I had to stand by while he met her death because to stop her would have put me and my entire purpose in jeopardy.
I guess I need to explain exactly what the Protector is, what I am. The Protector is an immortal being (yeah that is right did I forget to mention that before?) that was chosen by The Powers That Be to protect the vampire with a soul. I was to do that, and I didn't even know any vampires let alone any with souls. Until that night I didn't even know they existed. The other things that I knew were that this vampire that I was to protect could not be killed, no matter what happened. I was also told that I was not to reveal myself to him until I had explicit permission from the PTB (Powers That Be). Whistler was also to train me; I was to learn to defend my charge and myself and in essence become invisible unless I wanted to have my presence known. When the time came that he could know of my presence then I would get all of my power and strength. Whistler told that one of the reasons that I was chosen was because I was psychically open and I had natural magic. I, of course, thought he was insane because I never used magic. I didn't even know anyone who did and yet he was sitting here telling me that I had natural power. I guess I really was born to be what I have become. I really don't use it now unless I need to, and the only time I do is during a battle when my strength, knowledge, and tactical abilities aren't working out exactly like they are supposed to, so I guess you could say that since I learned how to use it magic is my last resort. The only other time I use it is when I channel the PTB. That is the other thing that I get to do. The vampire will lose the oracles and be cut off from the powers before I can go to him (and I do know it is a him). When I am given permission to come in contact with him I will become the Dreamer. And I know what you are thinking now not only the Protector but the Dreamer too well my job is to assist the seer that will aide him in his destiny. I also know that this is making about as much sense to you now as it was to me then. All I can remember thinking that night was gee I am glad Whistler didn't tell me all this before I agreed to this gig.
So Whistler took me to back to the tavern, I saw my beautiful stranger get into a drunken bar brawl. I also saw that my eyes were not the only one on him. There was a pretty blonde that watched him all night; I overheard her ask the barmaid about him. After that he followed her into an alley. That night from the safety of the shadows that would later become an acceptable ally in concealing my presence and the presence of my vampiric change, I saw the beautiful stranger that I had fallen in love with become a vampire. I returned home shortly after I witnessed his death. I laid in my bed that night and I cried because all in the course of two days, I fell in love at first sight, found out that evil really does exist in the form of demons, and saw man that I fell in love with become on of those demons.
The next afternoon my father informed me that I was no longer engaged to be married. I think the shock was apparent. I remember wondering what had happened between the day before and right then that would cause my father to change his mind completely. I asked him " What happened, father, to change your mind?" He looked at me with sad eyes and said " The man, Liam, that you were to marry died last night." That was when a tear escaped from my eye. I realized then that that man that I was so opposed to marrying, and the man that I loved were the same man. I knew that I had to talk to Whistler. I had to know if he was the one that I was to protect.
I remember finding out that the vampire that I was to protect had indeed been this man. I knew that everything would be okay if I could just get through this. I assumed that he would always have a soul, but when I found out what happened after he rose, I was mistaken. Whistler told me that all would come in time, but right now my mission was to get out from under the watchful eye of my parents. I remember pleading with my father that night to send me back to England. I refused to marry anyone, I had finally learned to put my foot down to him and use my charm to get what I wanted. So he sent me to England and he even allowed me to live on my own, which was almost unheard of for an unmarried woman of my age. He provided for me, and he allowed me to be a part of one of his businesses. I was grateful to him for that. After I left Ireland all of my family was killed, and I inherited everything, all of the money, land, and businesses. I think that Whistler knew that their deaths were coming and did not want me to meet the same fate. I mourned their loss, but I knew eventually their deaths would not be in vain, they were to serve a greater purpose, and they were happy were they were.
This newfound freedom of mine that came with a price, allowed me to train with Whistler. After a few years it was time for the ritual that would make me immortal. I don't remember much of that ritual other than it was very painful and I was unconscious for most of it. My life went on as it had before except I kept a very watchful eye on the demon Angelus. I later found out that he had changed his name ironically enough in honor of his sister memory. She thought that he had returned to her an angel, therefore he changed his name to Angelus, because Angel was far too good.