Chapter 7: The Slayer
8 months later.
"Goody," Anne exclaimed, when a vampire was reduced to dust by her stake. "The
third for tonight." She glanced at Angel who was standing behind her and
watching her progress in hand-to-hand combat.
"Not bad," he said after a moment.
"Not bad?," she rolled her eyes, "come on, he was dust in about ten seconds.
You could say, great Anne."
He gave her a slight smile, "I could, but it wouldn't be true. It was not bad,
but this was a simple vampire. Quite young too, just raised from the grave. It
was not a real test. You're already too good for him."
"There you said it. I'm good," she smiled proudly.
"I said you were too good for him," he corrected with a grin. He had grown fond
of her. Buffy had been right, you couldn't be around her and not like her. And
as much as she reminded him of her grand-mother there were many things that
were pure Anne. The way she would roll her eyes, or the way her lips would
twitch. That was her personality and not her grandmother's.
She narrowed her eyes, "You think you'll lose something if you give me a
compliment."
"I will give you a compliment when you've earned it," he said earnestly. "And I
already said it wasn't bad."
She sighed loudly and threw her hands in the air, "Fine, fine. But one day you
will tell me I was good. I promise you that much."
He chuckled and followed her through the dark cemetery. As Whistler had told
them Anne had been called the day after the memorial service. The new watcher's
name was Darren Elliot, a man in his 40's who wasn't what they'd expected. To
their surprise he was a bit like Giles. Open-minded and interested in everything
Willow and Angel had told him. He was even relieved to hear that Anne already
knew about her duties. He'd heard about Buffy, read some of her slayer diaries
and seemed very impressed by her career as a slayer.
He gladly agreed to Angel helping Anne, being aware of Angel's role in Buffy's
life. With gratitude he took the vampire's offer to train the new slayer in
hand-to-hand combat, it would save him many bruises and pain. He also treasured
Angel's and Willow's knowledge about prophecies, demons and was more than
slightly interested in the former red-head's wiccan qualities.
All in all he was the best thing that could've happened to Anne. The only thing that was different in him was the fact that he was married. His wife, Ellen, had been a watcher in training when he'd met her. Now she was supporting her husband, and as a result the slayer in any way possible. Over the eight months they'd become an interesting group that had their headquarters in Willow's house as the witch was old and not looking forward to meeting somewhere else.
"Angel," Anne interrupted his thoughts, "did you ever patrol with Buffy like
this?" The girl was more and more referring to her Grandmother as Buffy now.
"Yes," he chuckled, "very often actually."
"Willow said you'd have been kissing then."
The vampire had to clear his throat, "Well..,"
"Oh don't be shy," she teased. "I mean I'm over 18 now. I can talk about these
things."
"That's not what I mean. I just think it's a bit too private."
"Oh, Angel," she groaned, "You're no fun." She would never get used to his
quiet and cryptic attitude she decided. Although it gave him that mystical air
around him. If he'd have been human, the girls would've beaten each other to be
near him.
He chuckled again, "I'm not here for your fun," he reminded her.
Sighing loudly, she stopped, "I know. Believe me, I know. You're here to annoy
me with your comments about my slaying or your cryptic talks. Or to interrupt me
in the middle of something nice, like say dancing with a really hot guy at my
favourite club."
"Somehow this all sounds too familiar," he muttered, but she'd heard him.
"So Buffy was the same. You annoyed her too, there you see. Don't you think
it's time to learn and grow up. I mean hey, it's been more than sixty years."
Instantly his good mood was gone, the teasing gleam replaced by the well known
deep grief and Anne realised she'd made a fault. Reaching out with her hand she
didn't dare to touch him, "I'm sorry. I know that you don't feel like this. For
you she's still alive, isn't she?"
"Yes," he replied hoarsely.
"I didn't mean to hurt you," she said softly.
"I know," he looked at her, "it's not your fault, Anne. It's just ...," he
trailed off unable to find the right words to explain his feelings.
"You miss her so much," she finished for him and could see the surprise in his
eyes as if he couldn't believe her being so sensitive. "I've never been in
love, you know," she said after a moment, "I had a crush here and there but that
doesn't mean I'm some selfish brat."
"I know that," he replied quickly and then took a deep breath, "Now, maybe we
should go back to Willow. Dermot has promised to come over."
"Dermot," she groaned.
"He is alright."
"I know," she sighed. "From what Willow told me it could've been worse, but he
is soooo old." She heard the vampire chuckle beside her and grinned, "I know,
you're older, but you don't look that way. That makes the whole difference. You
might be 300, but when my friends at school see me with you they think you're
my incredibly hot boyfriend, not some sort of," she threw her hands in the air,
"I don't even know how to describe him."
"Dermot is a lot like Giles," he told her. "And he *is* alright. He always
tries to give you enough space to enjoy the life of a teenager."
"Now you're lecturing me again," she groaned. "What have I done to earn this?
Willow with her soft eyes that can kill with a glance, Dermot with his books
and on top of all this you, who goes all wise on me." Suddenly a vampire jumped
from behind the bushes and approached them with a growl. Anne stopped and reached behind her back to produce a stake, "Hey teeth-boy, just the distraction I need."
*
When they entered the house half an hour later they found Dermot, Ellen and
Willow deep in conversation, but they all looked up when they saw Anne and the
vampire.
"Four vamps tonight," the slayer told her watcher, who raised his brows at the
witch.
"It's more than usual," he then said glancing back at the girl.
She just shrugged, "Well, four isn't that bad. But yeah, usually I've got one
or two."
"Anything out of the ordinary," Dermot's question was directed towards Angel.
"No," the vampire replied but was instantly alarmed by the look in the watcher's eyes.
"We're not sure," Willow said with a sigh and gestured to Angel and Anne to
help themselves to tea or coffee. She took a book and handed it over to Angel.
"Read page 300 of this. It says something like a new demon coming, a dark age is
before us ... all quite mysterious." She took the glasses from her nose and
rubbed her eyes. The gesture was so much like Giles that Angel had to smile. He
wouldn't have dreamt he'd ever think about Giles by looking at Willow.
"So you're going to tell me we have to face another prophecy or even an
Armageddon?" Anne let herself fall in one chair and smiled at them unconcernedly. "Well, too bad for the demons. We might have to kill them."
"Your flippant attitude isn't helping," Dermot looked at her sternly.
"Yeah, but always thinking about the worst isn't either, right?", she shot
back.
"Stop it you two," Willow gave both her resolve face. "We're researching a
prophecy here and it's serious. Now," she gazed at the vampire. "Angel, what do
you think about the text."
"Hmmm," the vampire looked up. "Oh sorry. Yes, you are right, it's a strange
prophecy. Very unclear." He shook his head, "why didn't they ever try to write
it the way they think it's going to be." He sighed loudly and leaned his tall
frame to the wall. He'd never been fond of research and silently he longed for
a messenger like Doyle or Cordelia. Everything had been so much easier if one
knew what to look for. "It says something about an Armageddon, but doesn't give
the slightest hint for a date. There's only a mention of some demon coming to
town before and then there's a passage I don't understand." He shook his head
again and quoted, " 'The demon will challenge the slayer and after the slayer is
defeated she will be stronger to avoid the Armageddon.' Can you explain that?"
Dermot sighed as well, "No," he drew a hand through his dark hair with the
silver strands in-between and exchanged a loving smile with his wife. "That's the passage that really bugs me." He heard Anne laugh at his expression and grinned inwardly. He would never tell her about his wild young years, but he hadn't always been a watcher in a suit. "How can a slayer be defeated and then be stronger?" He made a helpless gesture with his hand and took another sip from his tea.
"Look," Anne gazed at the people in the room. "It seems as if we won't find out
anything tonight. Is it alright for me to just go to my bed? I'm really beat."
She glanced at the clock, no wonder she thought, it was after midnight.
"Of course," Willow gave her a smile. "Sleep tight."
"Yeah. You too." And with this she was out of the room.
The remaining people and the vampire exchanged concerned glances, until Dermot
finally voiced their thoughts, "Whatever it means, I don't like it. We need to
know more about it. I don't like the idea of sending my slayer into a battle
like this." He looked at Angel, "Whatever backup she might have. But I intend to
keep her alive and safe."
"But I'm really lost here. I mean, 'defeated', does that mean the slayer is
going to die? And then this part about being stronger afterwards," Willow shook
her head. "Maybe she's going to experience something like Buffy. She died too -
shortly. She was revived, but she wasn't really stronger afterwards. Just
horribly scared for a while."
"Hopefully not," Angel said after a moment of thinking. "Because I've still got
no breath and Xander isn't around anymore."
Willow studied the vampire's face for a moment. He was really grateful to her
childhood friend for saving Buffy's life. God, if Xander could've heard it, he
would have burst with pride, she thought. Sure, he'd hated Angel for a while,
resented him afterwards, but silently he'd admired him, although he would've
never told anyone. "No, Xander isn't around anymore," she then said with
a heavy sigh.
End Chapter 7.
8 months later.
"Goody," Anne exclaimed, when a vampire was reduced to dust by her stake. "The
third for tonight." She glanced at Angel who was standing behind her and
watching her progress in hand-to-hand combat.
"Not bad," he said after a moment.
"Not bad?," she rolled her eyes, "come on, he was dust in about ten seconds.
You could say, great Anne."
He gave her a slight smile, "I could, but it wouldn't be true. It was not bad,
but this was a simple vampire. Quite young too, just raised from the grave. It
was not a real test. You're already too good for him."
"There you said it. I'm good," she smiled proudly.
"I said you were too good for him," he corrected with a grin. He had grown fond
of her. Buffy had been right, you couldn't be around her and not like her. And
as much as she reminded him of her grand-mother there were many things that
were pure Anne. The way she would roll her eyes, or the way her lips would
twitch. That was her personality and not her grandmother's.
She narrowed her eyes, "You think you'll lose something if you give me a
compliment."
"I will give you a compliment when you've earned it," he said earnestly. "And I
already said it wasn't bad."
She sighed loudly and threw her hands in the air, "Fine, fine. But one day you
will tell me I was good. I promise you that much."
He chuckled and followed her through the dark cemetery. As Whistler had told
them Anne had been called the day after the memorial service. The new watcher's
name was Darren Elliot, a man in his 40's who wasn't what they'd expected. To
their surprise he was a bit like Giles. Open-minded and interested in everything
Willow and Angel had told him. He was even relieved to hear that Anne already
knew about her duties. He'd heard about Buffy, read some of her slayer diaries
and seemed very impressed by her career as a slayer.
He gladly agreed to Angel helping Anne, being aware of Angel's role in Buffy's
life. With gratitude he took the vampire's offer to train the new slayer in
hand-to-hand combat, it would save him many bruises and pain. He also treasured
Angel's and Willow's knowledge about prophecies, demons and was more than
slightly interested in the former red-head's wiccan qualities.
All in all he was the best thing that could've happened to Anne. The only thing that was different in him was the fact that he was married. His wife, Ellen, had been a watcher in training when he'd met her. Now she was supporting her husband, and as a result the slayer in any way possible. Over the eight months they'd become an interesting group that had their headquarters in Willow's house as the witch was old and not looking forward to meeting somewhere else.
"Angel," Anne interrupted his thoughts, "did you ever patrol with Buffy like
this?" The girl was more and more referring to her Grandmother as Buffy now.
"Yes," he chuckled, "very often actually."
"Willow said you'd have been kissing then."
The vampire had to clear his throat, "Well..,"
"Oh don't be shy," she teased. "I mean I'm over 18 now. I can talk about these
things."
"That's not what I mean. I just think it's a bit too private."
"Oh, Angel," she groaned, "You're no fun." She would never get used to his
quiet and cryptic attitude she decided. Although it gave him that mystical air
around him. If he'd have been human, the girls would've beaten each other to be
near him.
He chuckled again, "I'm not here for your fun," he reminded her.
Sighing loudly, she stopped, "I know. Believe me, I know. You're here to annoy
me with your comments about my slaying or your cryptic talks. Or to interrupt me
in the middle of something nice, like say dancing with a really hot guy at my
favourite club."
"Somehow this all sounds too familiar," he muttered, but she'd heard him.
"So Buffy was the same. You annoyed her too, there you see. Don't you think
it's time to learn and grow up. I mean hey, it's been more than sixty years."
Instantly his good mood was gone, the teasing gleam replaced by the well known
deep grief and Anne realised she'd made a fault. Reaching out with her hand she
didn't dare to touch him, "I'm sorry. I know that you don't feel like this. For
you she's still alive, isn't she?"
"Yes," he replied hoarsely.
"I didn't mean to hurt you," she said softly.
"I know," he looked at her, "it's not your fault, Anne. It's just ...," he
trailed off unable to find the right words to explain his feelings.
"You miss her so much," she finished for him and could see the surprise in his
eyes as if he couldn't believe her being so sensitive. "I've never been in
love, you know," she said after a moment, "I had a crush here and there but that
doesn't mean I'm some selfish brat."
"I know that," he replied quickly and then took a deep breath, "Now, maybe we
should go back to Willow. Dermot has promised to come over."
"Dermot," she groaned.
"He is alright."
"I know," she sighed. "From what Willow told me it could've been worse, but he
is soooo old." She heard the vampire chuckle beside her and grinned, "I know,
you're older, but you don't look that way. That makes the whole difference. You
might be 300, but when my friends at school see me with you they think you're
my incredibly hot boyfriend, not some sort of," she threw her hands in the air,
"I don't even know how to describe him."
"Dermot is a lot like Giles," he told her. "And he *is* alright. He always
tries to give you enough space to enjoy the life of a teenager."
"Now you're lecturing me again," she groaned. "What have I done to earn this?
Willow with her soft eyes that can kill with a glance, Dermot with his books
and on top of all this you, who goes all wise on me." Suddenly a vampire jumped
from behind the bushes and approached them with a growl. Anne stopped and reached behind her back to produce a stake, "Hey teeth-boy, just the distraction I need."
*
When they entered the house half an hour later they found Dermot, Ellen and
Willow deep in conversation, but they all looked up when they saw Anne and the
vampire.
"Four vamps tonight," the slayer told her watcher, who raised his brows at the
witch.
"It's more than usual," he then said glancing back at the girl.
She just shrugged, "Well, four isn't that bad. But yeah, usually I've got one
or two."
"Anything out of the ordinary," Dermot's question was directed towards Angel.
"No," the vampire replied but was instantly alarmed by the look in the watcher's eyes.
"We're not sure," Willow said with a sigh and gestured to Angel and Anne to
help themselves to tea or coffee. She took a book and handed it over to Angel.
"Read page 300 of this. It says something like a new demon coming, a dark age is
before us ... all quite mysterious." She took the glasses from her nose and
rubbed her eyes. The gesture was so much like Giles that Angel had to smile. He
wouldn't have dreamt he'd ever think about Giles by looking at Willow.
"So you're going to tell me we have to face another prophecy or even an
Armageddon?" Anne let herself fall in one chair and smiled at them unconcernedly. "Well, too bad for the demons. We might have to kill them."
"Your flippant attitude isn't helping," Dermot looked at her sternly.
"Yeah, but always thinking about the worst isn't either, right?", she shot
back.
"Stop it you two," Willow gave both her resolve face. "We're researching a
prophecy here and it's serious. Now," she gazed at the vampire. "Angel, what do
you think about the text."
"Hmmm," the vampire looked up. "Oh sorry. Yes, you are right, it's a strange
prophecy. Very unclear." He shook his head, "why didn't they ever try to write
it the way they think it's going to be." He sighed loudly and leaned his tall
frame to the wall. He'd never been fond of research and silently he longed for
a messenger like Doyle or Cordelia. Everything had been so much easier if one
knew what to look for. "It says something about an Armageddon, but doesn't give
the slightest hint for a date. There's only a mention of some demon coming to
town before and then there's a passage I don't understand." He shook his head
again and quoted, " 'The demon will challenge the slayer and after the slayer is
defeated she will be stronger to avoid the Armageddon.' Can you explain that?"
Dermot sighed as well, "No," he drew a hand through his dark hair with the
silver strands in-between and exchanged a loving smile with his wife. "That's the passage that really bugs me." He heard Anne laugh at his expression and grinned inwardly. He would never tell her about his wild young years, but he hadn't always been a watcher in a suit. "How can a slayer be defeated and then be stronger?" He made a helpless gesture with his hand and took another sip from his tea.
"Look," Anne gazed at the people in the room. "It seems as if we won't find out
anything tonight. Is it alright for me to just go to my bed? I'm really beat."
She glanced at the clock, no wonder she thought, it was after midnight.
"Of course," Willow gave her a smile. "Sleep tight."
"Yeah. You too." And with this she was out of the room.
The remaining people and the vampire exchanged concerned glances, until Dermot
finally voiced their thoughts, "Whatever it means, I don't like it. We need to
know more about it. I don't like the idea of sending my slayer into a battle
like this." He looked at Angel, "Whatever backup she might have. But I intend to
keep her alive and safe."
"But I'm really lost here. I mean, 'defeated', does that mean the slayer is
going to die? And then this part about being stronger afterwards," Willow shook
her head. "Maybe she's going to experience something like Buffy. She died too -
shortly. She was revived, but she wasn't really stronger afterwards. Just
horribly scared for a while."
"Hopefully not," Angel said after a moment of thinking. "Because I've still got
no breath and Xander isn't around anymore."
Willow studied the vampire's face for a moment. He was really grateful to her
childhood friend for saving Buffy's life. God, if Xander could've heard it, he
would have burst with pride, she thought. Sure, he'd hated Angel for a while,
resented him afterwards, but silently he'd admired him, although he would've
never told anyone. "No, Xander isn't around anymore," she then said with
a heavy sigh.
End Chapter 7.