The car ride back to sixteen thirty Revello Drive was quiet. Kyra kept her
eyes glued to the window, watching the landscape. Willow however, couldn't
seem to keep her eyes on the road. This woman couldn't be a vampire.
There was no way. Angel did mention that she had a soul. That she'd
always had it. No worrying about remorse or regret. But there was
something deeper then that, a lot deeper. Willow could feel the power
emulating from her passenger. She thought it was nothing at first at the
bus station, but she was sure of it now.
This nearly two thousand year old vampire was also an extremely power witch. The only thing about Kyra that proved she was human with a demon inside was her aura. Almost like a protective shell, there was light gray surrounding her. The rest was pretty much like a rainbow. But what surprised Willow was how bright it was. Most vampire auras she actually had a chance to read were dull and wary. This was just amazing.
Neither had said a word since they left the bus station. There was quite a bit of tension in the car. Not that either minded, they were both kind of thrown into this mix by Angel.
"Ye know, instead of reading my aura, ye should be concentrating on the road. I'll survive a wicked accident, but there is less of a chance for ye." Willow jerked her head to the road.
"I'm sorry, it's just that I've never seen a vampires aura so bright before. It's almost blinding." Kyra chuckled.
"Ye will have plenty of time to study my aura and what ever else you may have questions about. But first, back to your place without incident would be much appreciated." Suddenly Kyra reached into her back pocket; "I nearly forgot. Ye need to give this to . Buffy? I think her name is?" Willow nearly laughed out loud. Her best friends name being spoken with a thick Irish accent was going to be the brunt of some jokes for days to come.
"Yea it's Buffy." The smile on Willow's face was contagious Kyra couldn't help herself.
"So I believe I am nae to go near the slayer 'til she reads that message. Am I correct?"
"Again yes. Buffy is a great person, but lately she's been on the jumpy side of things." Kyra gave a gentle smile before dropping her head.
"I do understand that. Do ye suppose she'll be awake when we arrive?"
"No doubt in my mind. She usually doesn't finish her patrol till about three in the morning. Plus she knows I'm out and about and she worries."
"Again I understand. Angel and I had a slight conversation concerning ye and something we have in common." Willow sighed.
"Magick." She paused; "How much did he tell you?"
"Nae to much. Just that ye were a powerful witch that at times ye have a small problem with control. He left th' rest for me to either figure out on my own, or ask ye." Kyra resumed her look over the landscape without saying anything else.
"You can ask me you know." The red head told her after a moment.
"To be perfectly honest dear, I dinnae need to. Ye'r presence alone is enough to inform me of all I need to know." Willow almost gratefully accepted the answer. Nothing else was said as Willow turned down the designated street. As they pulled into the parking lot, Kyra noticed a petite blond woman walking toward the front porch.
"Wait here." The vampire only nodded. Willow got out to meet whom Kyra strongly suspected to be the legendary slayer. She had heard many stories of this particular slayer. Stories from Angel to Dracula himself. The longest living slayer ever in the existence of the order.
Kyra watched as the blond woman tore into the envelope. She had a look on her face that could pose as a look from Christmas morning. That brought a smile to the vampire lips. As the slayer read the contents she frowned. Ky could see the wheels turning in her head. Then for no reason, she felt the hairs on the back of her neck raise slightly. Apparently, the slayer felt it as well and initiated full on eye contact.
"That's her?" Buffy asked the witch.
"Yup. That's her. She seems really nice." Buffy glanced at the letter then back at the new comer.
"Is Angel serious? She's had her soul for almost two thousand years?"
"As far as I can tell. Her aura is so bright that it's blinding." Willow turned back to the car and motioned for Kyra to step out to them. Ky nodded slightly as she opened the door.
The closer she stepped to the two, the easier she could see the wooden stake sticking out of Buffy's pocket. Though she hadn't wanted to, she has faced several slayers in the past. Both had gotten away with their lives, but not without leaving one another in a bit of pain.
"'Tis a pleasure to finally meet ye." The thick Irish hit Buffy's ear like a ton of bricks. She listened hard for anything that could be considered sarcastic in any way, but she couldn't hear it. The tall woman in front of her was going to be brutally honest with her in all respects. It seemed, that it was a general pleasure to meet her. Buffy held her hand out.
"You too." Her voice firm but even. Kyra removed her glove and shook the slayers hand. Buffy's grip was firm, a little to firm. It could have broken a normal mortal hand without effort. But Kyra gave as good as she got. This seemed to surprise the slayer.
"Well, how about we go inside and get some hot coco, it's chilly out here." Willow had chosen the moment when she felt the tension nearly choking her. Grips were released and glazes returned to her.
"Yea, good idea. We can . talk inside." Buffy took one last look at the vampire before trotting up the stairs. Willow gave Kyra an apologetic look before following her friend. Ky closed her eyes and took a deep breath to calm herself before following. She stopped at the door; fully aware she had not had an invitation yet. She knew the spell to let herself in, but she didn't want to unnerve the slayer anymore then she already had. The last thing she needed right now was a pissed off slayer.
"You can come in." Willow said hesitantly. With a shy smile Kyra walked through the barrier and over to the red head.
"Thank ye." Few feet separated the two as their eyes locked. Kyra heard Willow's heart beat pick up along with her breathing. With a slight shake, the red head turned and headed for the kitchen. Kyra closed her eyes with a silent vow to wreak a small amount of vengeance on Angel. He knew there would be attraction here, something she had very little power over.
Buffy sat silently with the warm mug in her hands. The vampire that sat across from her silent as well. The slayer studied the vampire closely. The letter had told her that Kyra had never lost her soul. That she was here to help Spike who had gotten his soul back nearly two and a half years before. And the last tid bit of info unnerved her slightly. Well more then slightly, . the vampire Kyra Della O'Connor was a slayer. Nineteen hundred years ago. Buffy wondered if Kyra still had her abilities. The speed, the strength to possibly be heightened by her vampire senses. The thought alone actually scared her.
The slayer was surprised to find out about the old vampire. She had seen no prophecies or predictions about her. Giles would have a field day with her. The sudden light came on in her head. Giles. He would know what to do. The main problem being the London phone call on her phone bill. Buffy's eyes came up to find Kyra watching her.
"I believe that Angel has nae explained anythin' about me." The thick accent spoke first.
"No he hasn't." Replied Buffy. Kyra chuckled.
"He can be rather cryptic at times can' he?" That brought a smile to Buffy's lips. Kyra decided to take the plunge and explain; "Look, I'm nae here to disturb anythin'. I'm here mainly to sort things out with William. Once I can be sure that he is sent to th' correct direction, I shall be on my way." Willow looked nervously between the two. Buffy seemed to consider it. Something had been eating at the Wiccan though, she had to know.
"Is it true that you've never had human blood." The penetrating eyes found green and locked.
"Nae, 'tis nae true. I have drunk human blood. But I've na'er bitten a human." The comment sent chills down Buffy's spine; "During the wars, 'twas nae hard to find a fresh corpse killed by a sword or a bullet."
"So you'd wait until someone kicked the bucket before feeding." Willow looked a little green.
"Usually I'd wait for th' raids to finish just after night fall. Then I would go across enemy lines and feed on their recent death."
"Were you ever caught?" Buffy asked curiously. Kyra smiled as she turned her eyes to the slayer.
"Aye. Several times. But th' fact that I was in demon form a majority of th' time scared them off."
"If you couldn't find a fresh body, how did you survive? With out feeding on humans that is." Kyra instantly like the red head. Her curiosity was alluring.
"Many farms were around in my day dear. Just located a cow or a mare. Plenty of blood to keep me alive as well as the animal." Willow nodded as she looked at her cup.
Buffy watched the two. She could see a connection between them. Kyra was studying Willow carefully, as if to judge the reaction to her statements. She thought of Angel for a moment before speaking again.
"So, your soul. It isn't a curse?" Kyra's eyes met Buffy's. She frowned a bit, curious about the question. The slayers eyes darted to Willow and back. Brown eyes went wide with realization. She picked her words carefully.
"Nae dear. 'Tis a gift. Unlike ye'r friend Angel, there is no clause that came with it. 'Tis th' same soul I was given th' day I was conceived." Kyra took a quick glance at Willow before settling her eyes on her now empty mug. "Vamp out for me." The comment was highly unexpected. As was the source. Kyra's eyes found Willow's.
"Excuse me?" Even Buffy frowned at Willow's request.
"Vamp out. You know, change, make you face look different, change your features." Suddenly Buffy figured it out. Willow wanted proof that the woman sitting at the table was indeed a demon. She wanted to prevent herself from falling for her. Yet Willow wasn't even looking at her.
"May I ask why?" Kyra asked in a small voice. Willow looked at her.
"I'm curious." The vampire nodded slowly, then closed her eyes.
The change was subtle if that. The normal deep ridges of the forehead were very minimal. What surprised both Buffy and Willow was when Kyra opened her eyes. Instead of gold, they were jet in color.
"'Tis is only one of three forms that I possess. Th' main one." Her fangs were shorter then usual. With a blink of an eye, the changes were gone.
"Three forms?" Buffy wondered. Kyra stood and walked over to the sink. Setting the mug down carefully, she paused.
"Aye. Th' other two I dinnae control. One is for fighting, th' other ." she dropped her head to her chest. She heard the short scrape of a chair being moved.
"The other?" Willow asked, stepping fairly close to her. Slowly Kyra brought her eyes to meet Willow's.
"Th' other is for when I make love." The look on the red heads face didn't change. Buffy stood slowly and came to stand just behind Willow. Brown and green eyes stayed locked. Both almost as if in a trance. The moment however was interrupted when the back door opened.
"Slayer you need to tell the whelp that, .hello there." Spike stopped short when he saw the intense look between Willow and a very beautiful woman whom he'd never laid eyes on. Yet if she'd let him, he would lay on a whole lot more then just his eyes.
"Spike, what are you doing here?" Buffy crossed the kitchen to step between him and the two Wicca's.
"Now hold up slayer." At that both Buffy and Kyra looked up. Kyra instantly sensed the undead when she saw him. Without warning, she changed. Willow, who was about a foot away, stepped back. She hadn't expected it. The vampires jet eyes pierced Spikes. The two stared hard at one another. It wasn't until Kyra saw his aura that her face and eyes returned to her human features.
"William the Bloody I presume." Spike brows creased at the name.
"Depends on who's askin'." He hadn't sensed the undead vampire when he walked in. And for some reason, he still couldn't. Kyra stepped toward him.
"I was sent here to help ye." She reached out a hand; "Kyra O'Connor." She introduced.
"Is that right? Well in that case, . help me with what exactly?" He hadn't moved. Instead of the intent of shaking his hand, she held her hand up palm facing him.
"Etorae morta exumiy maanya soulisk." A bright light generated from her hand at the blond vampire. Spike covered his eyes.
"Bloody hell woman, what was that for?" Kyra dropped her hand and smirked. Buffy's jaw dropped, and Willow's eyes directed themselves at the female vampire.
"Spike, what, . what is that?" He looked at her confused. Slowly she walked around him looking over him.
"That's his soul Buffy." Willow informed them. Kyra nodded as she looked back at the red head. Whose eyes were intently locked on her; "Though no where near as bright as Kyra's, that's his soul in his aura." Kyra winked and snapped her fingers. The brightness that surrounded Spike disappeared. Willow flushed lightly and dropped her eyes.
"Aye, 'tis his soul. 'Tis th' reason I am here." She looked at the blond vampire; "I'm here to guide ye." Spike frowned. Buffy looked at Kyra, and then glanced at Willow who was still lightly flushed.
This nearly two thousand year old vampire was also an extremely power witch. The only thing about Kyra that proved she was human with a demon inside was her aura. Almost like a protective shell, there was light gray surrounding her. The rest was pretty much like a rainbow. But what surprised Willow was how bright it was. Most vampire auras she actually had a chance to read were dull and wary. This was just amazing.
Neither had said a word since they left the bus station. There was quite a bit of tension in the car. Not that either minded, they were both kind of thrown into this mix by Angel.
"Ye know, instead of reading my aura, ye should be concentrating on the road. I'll survive a wicked accident, but there is less of a chance for ye." Willow jerked her head to the road.
"I'm sorry, it's just that I've never seen a vampires aura so bright before. It's almost blinding." Kyra chuckled.
"Ye will have plenty of time to study my aura and what ever else you may have questions about. But first, back to your place without incident would be much appreciated." Suddenly Kyra reached into her back pocket; "I nearly forgot. Ye need to give this to . Buffy? I think her name is?" Willow nearly laughed out loud. Her best friends name being spoken with a thick Irish accent was going to be the brunt of some jokes for days to come.
"Yea it's Buffy." The smile on Willow's face was contagious Kyra couldn't help herself.
"So I believe I am nae to go near the slayer 'til she reads that message. Am I correct?"
"Again yes. Buffy is a great person, but lately she's been on the jumpy side of things." Kyra gave a gentle smile before dropping her head.
"I do understand that. Do ye suppose she'll be awake when we arrive?"
"No doubt in my mind. She usually doesn't finish her patrol till about three in the morning. Plus she knows I'm out and about and she worries."
"Again I understand. Angel and I had a slight conversation concerning ye and something we have in common." Willow sighed.
"Magick." She paused; "How much did he tell you?"
"Nae to much. Just that ye were a powerful witch that at times ye have a small problem with control. He left th' rest for me to either figure out on my own, or ask ye." Kyra resumed her look over the landscape without saying anything else.
"You can ask me you know." The red head told her after a moment.
"To be perfectly honest dear, I dinnae need to. Ye'r presence alone is enough to inform me of all I need to know." Willow almost gratefully accepted the answer. Nothing else was said as Willow turned down the designated street. As they pulled into the parking lot, Kyra noticed a petite blond woman walking toward the front porch.
"Wait here." The vampire only nodded. Willow got out to meet whom Kyra strongly suspected to be the legendary slayer. She had heard many stories of this particular slayer. Stories from Angel to Dracula himself. The longest living slayer ever in the existence of the order.
Kyra watched as the blond woman tore into the envelope. She had a look on her face that could pose as a look from Christmas morning. That brought a smile to the vampire lips. As the slayer read the contents she frowned. Ky could see the wheels turning in her head. Then for no reason, she felt the hairs on the back of her neck raise slightly. Apparently, the slayer felt it as well and initiated full on eye contact.
"That's her?" Buffy asked the witch.
"Yup. That's her. She seems really nice." Buffy glanced at the letter then back at the new comer.
"Is Angel serious? She's had her soul for almost two thousand years?"
"As far as I can tell. Her aura is so bright that it's blinding." Willow turned back to the car and motioned for Kyra to step out to them. Ky nodded slightly as she opened the door.
The closer she stepped to the two, the easier she could see the wooden stake sticking out of Buffy's pocket. Though she hadn't wanted to, she has faced several slayers in the past. Both had gotten away with their lives, but not without leaving one another in a bit of pain.
"'Tis a pleasure to finally meet ye." The thick Irish hit Buffy's ear like a ton of bricks. She listened hard for anything that could be considered sarcastic in any way, but she couldn't hear it. The tall woman in front of her was going to be brutally honest with her in all respects. It seemed, that it was a general pleasure to meet her. Buffy held her hand out.
"You too." Her voice firm but even. Kyra removed her glove and shook the slayers hand. Buffy's grip was firm, a little to firm. It could have broken a normal mortal hand without effort. But Kyra gave as good as she got. This seemed to surprise the slayer.
"Well, how about we go inside and get some hot coco, it's chilly out here." Willow had chosen the moment when she felt the tension nearly choking her. Grips were released and glazes returned to her.
"Yea, good idea. We can . talk inside." Buffy took one last look at the vampire before trotting up the stairs. Willow gave Kyra an apologetic look before following her friend. Ky closed her eyes and took a deep breath to calm herself before following. She stopped at the door; fully aware she had not had an invitation yet. She knew the spell to let herself in, but she didn't want to unnerve the slayer anymore then she already had. The last thing she needed right now was a pissed off slayer.
"You can come in." Willow said hesitantly. With a shy smile Kyra walked through the barrier and over to the red head.
"Thank ye." Few feet separated the two as their eyes locked. Kyra heard Willow's heart beat pick up along with her breathing. With a slight shake, the red head turned and headed for the kitchen. Kyra closed her eyes with a silent vow to wreak a small amount of vengeance on Angel. He knew there would be attraction here, something she had very little power over.
Buffy sat silently with the warm mug in her hands. The vampire that sat across from her silent as well. The slayer studied the vampire closely. The letter had told her that Kyra had never lost her soul. That she was here to help Spike who had gotten his soul back nearly two and a half years before. And the last tid bit of info unnerved her slightly. Well more then slightly, . the vampire Kyra Della O'Connor was a slayer. Nineteen hundred years ago. Buffy wondered if Kyra still had her abilities. The speed, the strength to possibly be heightened by her vampire senses. The thought alone actually scared her.
The slayer was surprised to find out about the old vampire. She had seen no prophecies or predictions about her. Giles would have a field day with her. The sudden light came on in her head. Giles. He would know what to do. The main problem being the London phone call on her phone bill. Buffy's eyes came up to find Kyra watching her.
"I believe that Angel has nae explained anythin' about me." The thick accent spoke first.
"No he hasn't." Replied Buffy. Kyra chuckled.
"He can be rather cryptic at times can' he?" That brought a smile to Buffy's lips. Kyra decided to take the plunge and explain; "Look, I'm nae here to disturb anythin'. I'm here mainly to sort things out with William. Once I can be sure that he is sent to th' correct direction, I shall be on my way." Willow looked nervously between the two. Buffy seemed to consider it. Something had been eating at the Wiccan though, she had to know.
"Is it true that you've never had human blood." The penetrating eyes found green and locked.
"Nae, 'tis nae true. I have drunk human blood. But I've na'er bitten a human." The comment sent chills down Buffy's spine; "During the wars, 'twas nae hard to find a fresh corpse killed by a sword or a bullet."
"So you'd wait until someone kicked the bucket before feeding." Willow looked a little green.
"Usually I'd wait for th' raids to finish just after night fall. Then I would go across enemy lines and feed on their recent death."
"Were you ever caught?" Buffy asked curiously. Kyra smiled as she turned her eyes to the slayer.
"Aye. Several times. But th' fact that I was in demon form a majority of th' time scared them off."
"If you couldn't find a fresh body, how did you survive? With out feeding on humans that is." Kyra instantly like the red head. Her curiosity was alluring.
"Many farms were around in my day dear. Just located a cow or a mare. Plenty of blood to keep me alive as well as the animal." Willow nodded as she looked at her cup.
Buffy watched the two. She could see a connection between them. Kyra was studying Willow carefully, as if to judge the reaction to her statements. She thought of Angel for a moment before speaking again.
"So, your soul. It isn't a curse?" Kyra's eyes met Buffy's. She frowned a bit, curious about the question. The slayers eyes darted to Willow and back. Brown eyes went wide with realization. She picked her words carefully.
"Nae dear. 'Tis a gift. Unlike ye'r friend Angel, there is no clause that came with it. 'Tis th' same soul I was given th' day I was conceived." Kyra took a quick glance at Willow before settling her eyes on her now empty mug. "Vamp out for me." The comment was highly unexpected. As was the source. Kyra's eyes found Willow's.
"Excuse me?" Even Buffy frowned at Willow's request.
"Vamp out. You know, change, make you face look different, change your features." Suddenly Buffy figured it out. Willow wanted proof that the woman sitting at the table was indeed a demon. She wanted to prevent herself from falling for her. Yet Willow wasn't even looking at her.
"May I ask why?" Kyra asked in a small voice. Willow looked at her.
"I'm curious." The vampire nodded slowly, then closed her eyes.
The change was subtle if that. The normal deep ridges of the forehead were very minimal. What surprised both Buffy and Willow was when Kyra opened her eyes. Instead of gold, they were jet in color.
"'Tis is only one of three forms that I possess. Th' main one." Her fangs were shorter then usual. With a blink of an eye, the changes were gone.
"Three forms?" Buffy wondered. Kyra stood and walked over to the sink. Setting the mug down carefully, she paused.
"Aye. Th' other two I dinnae control. One is for fighting, th' other ." she dropped her head to her chest. She heard the short scrape of a chair being moved.
"The other?" Willow asked, stepping fairly close to her. Slowly Kyra brought her eyes to meet Willow's.
"Th' other is for when I make love." The look on the red heads face didn't change. Buffy stood slowly and came to stand just behind Willow. Brown and green eyes stayed locked. Both almost as if in a trance. The moment however was interrupted when the back door opened.
"Slayer you need to tell the whelp that, .hello there." Spike stopped short when he saw the intense look between Willow and a very beautiful woman whom he'd never laid eyes on. Yet if she'd let him, he would lay on a whole lot more then just his eyes.
"Spike, what are you doing here?" Buffy crossed the kitchen to step between him and the two Wicca's.
"Now hold up slayer." At that both Buffy and Kyra looked up. Kyra instantly sensed the undead when she saw him. Without warning, she changed. Willow, who was about a foot away, stepped back. She hadn't expected it. The vampires jet eyes pierced Spikes. The two stared hard at one another. It wasn't until Kyra saw his aura that her face and eyes returned to her human features.
"William the Bloody I presume." Spike brows creased at the name.
"Depends on who's askin'." He hadn't sensed the undead vampire when he walked in. And for some reason, he still couldn't. Kyra stepped toward him.
"I was sent here to help ye." She reached out a hand; "Kyra O'Connor." She introduced.
"Is that right? Well in that case, . help me with what exactly?" He hadn't moved. Instead of the intent of shaking his hand, she held her hand up palm facing him.
"Etorae morta exumiy maanya soulisk." A bright light generated from her hand at the blond vampire. Spike covered his eyes.
"Bloody hell woman, what was that for?" Kyra dropped her hand and smirked. Buffy's jaw dropped, and Willow's eyes directed themselves at the female vampire.
"Spike, what, . what is that?" He looked at her confused. Slowly she walked around him looking over him.
"That's his soul Buffy." Willow informed them. Kyra nodded as she looked back at the red head. Whose eyes were intently locked on her; "Though no where near as bright as Kyra's, that's his soul in his aura." Kyra winked and snapped her fingers. The brightness that surrounded Spike disappeared. Willow flushed lightly and dropped her eyes.
"Aye, 'tis his soul. 'Tis th' reason I am here." She looked at the blond vampire; "I'm here to guide ye." Spike frowned. Buffy looked at Kyra, and then glanced at Willow who was still lightly flushed.