Xander was so focused on making it home and getting re-equipped, that he
was completely oblivious to the danger that was stalking him from behind.
Following from the overgrowth of bushes and trees at the side of the
sidewalk were seven vampires sent by Angelus to bring Xander back to him,
dead or alive. They were waiting to strike until Xander passed under one
of the burned out streetlights, where under the cover of almost total
darkness, they might avoid the notice of the accursed Slayer. The vampires
murmured to themselves preparing to strike at the lone Slayerette.
Just as the got close enough to Xander to strike, they felt a presence directly behind them. All of the vampires rapidly turned around in surprise, which was magnified tenfold when they saw what it was that had alerted them in the first place. What they now faced instead of a boy was a very large beast that reeked of pure evil and malevolence. This new creature, previously unknown to the vampires, stood at over seven feet tall. This creature had a brown scaly carapace, long spikes extending from its spinal column from its neck down to its long tail. At the end of the beast's feet and hands were razor sharp talons. Its face extended from its muscular neck into a snout-like structure. Two long horns grew from its forehead forward. As if the creature wasn't frightening enough already, its mouth formed an underbite with hundreds of long sharp teeth. The vampires could see muscles rippling beneath the scaly hide with every breath that the great beast took.
Soon enough, the creature spoke in a deep rumbling voice. "I am Abishai, Herald of Baatezu the Devourer. The one you are hunting, the human named Xander Harris, is the Chosen One. He will pave the way for Baatezu to return to this plane of existence. Therefore, his life is under my protection, and all attempts on his life are subject to retribution by me." Abishai stared at the vampires with his pupilless gray eyes, and crossed his strong arms over his chest as if daring the vampires to oppose him.
He was not disappointed. One of the newly made vampires stepped forward to speak. "I don't know who you are, or who your buddy Betty Crocker is either. And you know what? I don't care! We've been sent to capture this kid dead or alive. And since it's been awhile since my last meal, it'll probably be dead."
With this pronouncement, Abishai shifted into an obvious posture of aggression. "You had best measure your words carefully whelp. I was pacifying parts of this world before mankind even walked th e Earth. I would return to your lair now before you discover a fate worse than undeath."
The young vampire again spoke for the group of seven. "Look pal, there only seems to be one of you, and there are seven of us. Basic numerical advantage. Now if you'll excuse us, we have a feeding to attend to."
As the young vampire turned to leave, Abishai reached out with surprising agility and tore him in half. Before the vampire's two halves could even touch the ground, they crumbled into dust. The other six vampires charged Abishai hoping that they would not share the same fate as the other vampire.
They hoped in vain.
Just as the got close enough to Xander to strike, they felt a presence directly behind them. All of the vampires rapidly turned around in surprise, which was magnified tenfold when they saw what it was that had alerted them in the first place. What they now faced instead of a boy was a very large beast that reeked of pure evil and malevolence. This new creature, previously unknown to the vampires, stood at over seven feet tall. This creature had a brown scaly carapace, long spikes extending from its spinal column from its neck down to its long tail. At the end of the beast's feet and hands were razor sharp talons. Its face extended from its muscular neck into a snout-like structure. Two long horns grew from its forehead forward. As if the creature wasn't frightening enough already, its mouth formed an underbite with hundreds of long sharp teeth. The vampires could see muscles rippling beneath the scaly hide with every breath that the great beast took.
Soon enough, the creature spoke in a deep rumbling voice. "I am Abishai, Herald of Baatezu the Devourer. The one you are hunting, the human named Xander Harris, is the Chosen One. He will pave the way for Baatezu to return to this plane of existence. Therefore, his life is under my protection, and all attempts on his life are subject to retribution by me." Abishai stared at the vampires with his pupilless gray eyes, and crossed his strong arms over his chest as if daring the vampires to oppose him.
He was not disappointed. One of the newly made vampires stepped forward to speak. "I don't know who you are, or who your buddy Betty Crocker is either. And you know what? I don't care! We've been sent to capture this kid dead or alive. And since it's been awhile since my last meal, it'll probably be dead."
With this pronouncement, Abishai shifted into an obvious posture of aggression. "You had best measure your words carefully whelp. I was pacifying parts of this world before mankind even walked th e Earth. I would return to your lair now before you discover a fate worse than undeath."
The young vampire again spoke for the group of seven. "Look pal, there only seems to be one of you, and there are seven of us. Basic numerical advantage. Now if you'll excuse us, we have a feeding to attend to."
As the young vampire turned to leave, Abishai reached out with surprising agility and tore him in half. Before the vampire's two halves could even touch the ground, they crumbled into dust. The other six vampires charged Abishai hoping that they would not share the same fate as the other vampire.
They hoped in vain.