Candy Mulder, The Vampire Slayer: Something Vampire This Way Comes (4/?)
After filling him in on my dad's theory about vampires harvesting supernatural energy and having him agree it was something to consider in regards to Nothla, I told Winford I'd be out sample-hunting with Sunnydale's own teen conspiracy theorist that afternoon and he sighed deeply. "What a strange young man." he commented. "Does he have many friends, extracurricular activities?"
I was in the process of tying my sneaker. "That's your criteria for strangeness? What extracurriculars do I have besides slaying the undead? And friends? Haven't seen one of those in awhile."
Winford patted my head absently as he walked past me towards the window. "It's just striking to me that...well, he and you are actually quite a match."
Before he could explain his bizarre comment, Robbie poked his head in. "Mulder, I said *outside*."
"Coming, coming." I said. I picked up my bookbag and tossed it over my shoulder, "See you tomorrow, Winford."
Outside in the hallway, McAfee was waiting impatiently, tapping his foot in a discordant rhythm. "Some people have things to do, you know." he accused.
"I guess you're not talking about yourself, huh."
He didn't even bother to reply. He took the lead, and shrugging, I followed him.
We exited the school and walked along in silence for a long time, me just following him and him looking...very serious. And weird. Definitely weird. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. "Hey, McAfee, mind on filling me in?"
I've never seen anyone turn their head so slowly -or look so far down his nose at me. I could see the beginning of a sneer around his eyes and it took all my willpower not to punch him in the face. When he spoke, it was in a tone designed to make me feel as much of a five-year-old as possible, "I thought you'd realized already, Mulder. We're going to your very own stomping ground."
"Huh?" I began, but then I saw suddenly where we were. The cemetery.
He'd opened his bookbag. "What are we doing here?" I asked stupidly. He handed me a few Ziploc bags.
The sneer that had been forming took on its full form. "I don't know. Making candied apples?"
I was about ready to push him over, but he traipsed on ahead into the cemetery before I could react. I huffed out loud, and mentally composed a plea to Maureen. "Maureen, does your dad have anything in the way of untraceable poisons?"
By the time I caught up to him, he was bending over plucking a dandelion with what looked like a pair of tweezers. "A dandelion?" I asked incredulously. "Yeah, that'll really give 'em a run for their money."
Without looking up, he said, "Maybe if you were more intent on collecting samples instead hurling half-witted barbs at me, Mulder, we could get this over with and leave each other's company sooner."
I was about to screech "Half-witted?", but decided there was a kind of warped wisdom to his words and shrugged it off. I spotted some green slime-like gunk on the side of a mausoleum and asked Robbie if he had anything in the way of a scraper. He whipped out a vicious-looking file from a set of polished scientific-looking tools he had in a nifty leather case. "You really know your stuff." I commented, trying to be polite. He waved me away. The guy really had something against common courtesy.
I mimed stabbing him in the back with the file and moved off to scrape the gunk off the wall and put in one of the bags. I was so busy, I didn't notice Robbie until he loomed up in front of me. He was staring straight ahead, an inexplicable look on his face. I followed his gaze. "I wonder what kind of samples we could get in there..." he said with a dreamy quality in his voice. "Guaranteed As'."
He was talking about the mausoleum. I scrambled to my feet. "No way. No how, man. We're not going in there."
"What? Chicken? I thought you were the...what do you call yourself? The *slayer*?" I didn't particularly care for the way he referred to my sacred calling.
I snapped my sample bag shut. "That's not it, chowderhead. I'll be fine if they are any fangy nasties in there. It's *you* who should be worried. Being out here, in the sunlight, that's fine. But go in there? Any vamps asleep in there could still definitely make a meal of you. And frankly, I'm not into slaying in the daytime." I paused here, considering. "No, scratch that. I'm not into saving your face. Again."
"Whatever, Mulder. Come or not. I've survived in this town this long - way before you ever showed up." And just like that, the fool just marched on into that mausoleum, not caring if it was some kind of vamp nest or anything. I was about ready to *stake* him. Thinking how patient my mother must have been to put up with my father for so long - and to even *marry* him - I walked in after Robbie.
He was crouched down in one corner. The place was pretty musty and a cloud of dust surrounded him. He was holding up a swab of cotton with something dark on it. "Mulder, can you identify this?"
Sighing, I walked over and examined the cotton swab. I took it from him and turned it around, getting a 3D view. "Looks like..."
"Samara?" sounded a bewildered voice behind me. A bewildered voice that had a decidedly mom-like intonation to it.
Robbie was already standing up and patting the dust off his pants. I turned and was greeted by the sight of my parents standing in the entrance of the mausoleum. "Mom. Dad. Uh..."
"Your parents, Mulder?" asked Robbie coolly.
My father and mother smiled at that one. "Mom, dad, this is Robbie, my partner. My lab partner." This was really awkward.
You really have to hand it Robbie, though. He didn't seem to understand the oddity of being introduced to someone's parents in a resting place for the dead. He extended his hand towards my folks as politely as if he were my date, picking me up at my house. My father was a teeniest bit taken aback at first, but recovered and shook McAfee's hand. "Robert McAfee. Pleased to meet you, sir." he said. Then he shook my mother's hand. "You as well, ma'am."
"Likewise," said my father, in a tone I knew was amused.
"Your daughter and I are collecting samples for a biology lab. I hope she didn't worry you." What?!? Was this Weirder McAfee talking? I gave him a shocked look.
"Oh, we didn't know she was here." said dad.
"We're here on...personal business." my mother offered. "You two just get back to your...sample-hunting."
I guess that was all the dismissal Robbie needed because he nodded and went back to looking over his cotton swab. My mother flicked her eyebrows towards the door and I walked after my parents outside.
"Seems like a good kid," was dad's first comment once we were out of earshot.
My mother raised an eyebrow. "So, mom, what are you and dad doing out here?" It was the foremost question on my mind.
It was my father who answered. "A couple of disappearances were reported, teens, very mysterious. The LA field office gave us a call, seeing as how we have a history with 'mysterious'."
"It was also nice that we just happened to be only agents in the vicinity." my mother added witheringly.
I was confused. "Agents?" I echoed. "You quit the bureau."
It was mom's turn to look confused. "That's right. We did. We were just called in as experts." she said, not losing that confused look. She looked a little like she was lost.
"Anyhow, your mom and I were investigating the last place the most recent victims were seen. That park across the street. Then..." Dad pointed to somewhere behind him.
"We decided to come in here and have a look around, and that's when we found you two." finished mom. My parents. Always finishing each other's sentences.
I realized immediately they were talking about Nothla-related disappearances. "Who were the victims?" I asked.
Again, my parents shared a look. "Sweetheart, I don't see how it's any of your concern." my mom finally volunteered.
"Well, of course it's my concern, I'm the..." I caught myself in time. "...same age group as most of them. Maybe I even knew them. Maybe they even went to school with me!"
Mom and dad couldn't debate that. "Names were Viv Carlton and Peter Delinksy. Seniors at Sunnydale High." offered my father.
"Um, I think I've heard of them. Viv was on the school paper, I think. Peter was on the swim team. Cute couple." I said.
"They were a couple?" asked mom. She made it sound like critical info.
I took a moment to think. Viv had been a medium-height brunette who wrote music reviews for the paper. She'd always been quick to smile at me, even though she was senior and always had headphones clamped over her ears. Peter, I recalled, had been dark-haired and tall and beyond that I couldn't remember anything. Except that they'd been dating for about two weeks. "Uh-huh. For a couple of weeks. Why?"
"Just something we'll check out," replied dad, which wasn't much of an answer.
"We'll see you at home for dinner, sweetie. Don't be too late, all right?" continued my mother. Finishing each other's sentences, again.
"Tell that McAfee boy we said good-bye." called dad over his shoulder and he and my mom left.
I watched them go and all of a sudden, I got a very uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach. I wasn't sure I wanted my parents investigating this whole Nothla thing. Heck, I wasn't sure *I* wanted to be investigating this Nothla thing. It was true my parents had had years of experience in the FBI, with the X-files, that they were experts, if there ever were any. But I couldn't help thinking how even with a slayer's superpowers, she can still succumb to a vampire god's wrath. And what of my mere mortal parents? No. I didn't like them working on this case. I didn't like it at all.
Later that night, Winford and I decided to do a duo patrol - coz he thought that two heads would be better than one. Like, duh? I'd told him about Viv and Peter and I think that got him sorta freaked. What got him downright freaked, though, was that my folks were investigating. "I'm not certain that's such a good idea," he'd said, chewing his lower lip.
Okay, now they're my parents and like I said, I really didn't like them diddling in demonic forces, either, but give me a break. They're trained professionals! My watcher was making them out to be a pair of amateurs. "I'll have you know my parents have had more than their fair share of...paranormal investigations. My dad can quote spooky stats around you any day." I'd said indignantly.
Winford obviously got the negative vibe because he dropped the topic. We'd rendezvoused at the cemetery at six, just before sunset (I'd told my parents there was urgent shelving to be had - seriously, adults will fall for anything!). Winford was weighed down with a bag full of something. My guess was slaying supplies. I had a stake in the back pocket of my jeans. I'd learned early on that slaying is a job that is best accomplished with the minimum amount of equipment. A stake is all you really need; the other stuff just weighs you down, and you almost never get a chance to use any of it. "What's in the bag?" I asked sarcastically. "Mini bar?"
He dropped the bag with a thud, exhaling loudly. "Materials for a protection spell. It should keep the vampires at bay - at least for tonight."
"Sounds like a plan. Let's get to it."
We hauled the bag into the cemetery, Winford explaining that he would cast a sort of protective dome over the place. "According to what I read, the vampires must remain within a resting place for the dead for the duration of the Nothla ceremony. Therefore, if we trap them in here for tonight, they can't collect any more hapless victims."
"At least for tonight," I added. "But I'll take it."
He began spreading out his stuff, and since after a few minutes I realized I was more of a bother than a help, I stepped out of his salt circle (according to Winford, vampires detest salt) and did some light patrolling. The sun had set and it was darn quiet.
I walked back to where Winford was kneeling in his salt circle with a bunch of lit candles surrounding him. "Whoa, intense." I breathed.
"Yes, quite. Now, Candy, listen. Once I start the spell, I can't be interrupted or I'll have to start all over again. And since it takes about three hours, it would be better if I wasn't interrupted." He looked meaningfully at me.
I threw up my hands. "Hey, enough said. No talking. I get it. Geez, all you had to say was 'Shhhh'." I complained.
Winford threw me a frustrated look and I pretended to zip my lips. "No talking, promise. See, I'm walking away."
When I was out of earshot, I began dictating a letter to Maureen. "The librarian has a stick up his..."
"Caaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnndddddddddddyyyyyyyyyy!"
My name reverberated through the night air. It was coming from Winford's direction. I ran as fast as I could back to where I'd left him and saw that he was surrounded by six vamps, all in game face and snarling like crazy. They were momentarily stunned by the salt circle, but I could see them racking their brains on how to get in. I pulled the stake out of my pocket. "Hello, boys."
They all rushed me at once, but I managed to dust them in quick order. All except for me, a short weasly looking one who was real quick on his toes. "What are you, a kid-sized version of a vampire?" I asked mockingly.
That kinda ticked him off because he growled and flung himself at me. I put up my arms to block him, but I shouldn't have bothered. His flight was cut short by a wide beam of very bright white light. He yelped like an injured dog and went crashing to the ground, hissing and burning where the light had hit him. Regaining my senses I rushed forward and staked him through the heart. It disappeared in a cloud of gray.
It was at that point that I turned to find the origin of the saving light. Winford was already gaping. I don't think I could have been more surprised to see a mutant dandelion, because lo and behold, it was Robert "Weirder" McAfee himself.
After filling him in on my dad's theory about vampires harvesting supernatural energy and having him agree it was something to consider in regards to Nothla, I told Winford I'd be out sample-hunting with Sunnydale's own teen conspiracy theorist that afternoon and he sighed deeply. "What a strange young man." he commented. "Does he have many friends, extracurricular activities?"
I was in the process of tying my sneaker. "That's your criteria for strangeness? What extracurriculars do I have besides slaying the undead? And friends? Haven't seen one of those in awhile."
Winford patted my head absently as he walked past me towards the window. "It's just striking to me that...well, he and you are actually quite a match."
Before he could explain his bizarre comment, Robbie poked his head in. "Mulder, I said *outside*."
"Coming, coming." I said. I picked up my bookbag and tossed it over my shoulder, "See you tomorrow, Winford."
Outside in the hallway, McAfee was waiting impatiently, tapping his foot in a discordant rhythm. "Some people have things to do, you know." he accused.
"I guess you're not talking about yourself, huh."
He didn't even bother to reply. He took the lead, and shrugging, I followed him.
We exited the school and walked along in silence for a long time, me just following him and him looking...very serious. And weird. Definitely weird. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. "Hey, McAfee, mind on filling me in?"
I've never seen anyone turn their head so slowly -or look so far down his nose at me. I could see the beginning of a sneer around his eyes and it took all my willpower not to punch him in the face. When he spoke, it was in a tone designed to make me feel as much of a five-year-old as possible, "I thought you'd realized already, Mulder. We're going to your very own stomping ground."
"Huh?" I began, but then I saw suddenly where we were. The cemetery.
He'd opened his bookbag. "What are we doing here?" I asked stupidly. He handed me a few Ziploc bags.
The sneer that had been forming took on its full form. "I don't know. Making candied apples?"
I was about ready to push him over, but he traipsed on ahead into the cemetery before I could react. I huffed out loud, and mentally composed a plea to Maureen. "Maureen, does your dad have anything in the way of untraceable poisons?"
By the time I caught up to him, he was bending over plucking a dandelion with what looked like a pair of tweezers. "A dandelion?" I asked incredulously. "Yeah, that'll really give 'em a run for their money."
Without looking up, he said, "Maybe if you were more intent on collecting samples instead hurling half-witted barbs at me, Mulder, we could get this over with and leave each other's company sooner."
I was about to screech "Half-witted?", but decided there was a kind of warped wisdom to his words and shrugged it off. I spotted some green slime-like gunk on the side of a mausoleum and asked Robbie if he had anything in the way of a scraper. He whipped out a vicious-looking file from a set of polished scientific-looking tools he had in a nifty leather case. "You really know your stuff." I commented, trying to be polite. He waved me away. The guy really had something against common courtesy.
I mimed stabbing him in the back with the file and moved off to scrape the gunk off the wall and put in one of the bags. I was so busy, I didn't notice Robbie until he loomed up in front of me. He was staring straight ahead, an inexplicable look on his face. I followed his gaze. "I wonder what kind of samples we could get in there..." he said with a dreamy quality in his voice. "Guaranteed As'."
He was talking about the mausoleum. I scrambled to my feet. "No way. No how, man. We're not going in there."
"What? Chicken? I thought you were the...what do you call yourself? The *slayer*?" I didn't particularly care for the way he referred to my sacred calling.
I snapped my sample bag shut. "That's not it, chowderhead. I'll be fine if they are any fangy nasties in there. It's *you* who should be worried. Being out here, in the sunlight, that's fine. But go in there? Any vamps asleep in there could still definitely make a meal of you. And frankly, I'm not into slaying in the daytime." I paused here, considering. "No, scratch that. I'm not into saving your face. Again."
"Whatever, Mulder. Come or not. I've survived in this town this long - way before you ever showed up." And just like that, the fool just marched on into that mausoleum, not caring if it was some kind of vamp nest or anything. I was about ready to *stake* him. Thinking how patient my mother must have been to put up with my father for so long - and to even *marry* him - I walked in after Robbie.
He was crouched down in one corner. The place was pretty musty and a cloud of dust surrounded him. He was holding up a swab of cotton with something dark on it. "Mulder, can you identify this?"
Sighing, I walked over and examined the cotton swab. I took it from him and turned it around, getting a 3D view. "Looks like..."
"Samara?" sounded a bewildered voice behind me. A bewildered voice that had a decidedly mom-like intonation to it.
Robbie was already standing up and patting the dust off his pants. I turned and was greeted by the sight of my parents standing in the entrance of the mausoleum. "Mom. Dad. Uh..."
"Your parents, Mulder?" asked Robbie coolly.
My father and mother smiled at that one. "Mom, dad, this is Robbie, my partner. My lab partner." This was really awkward.
You really have to hand it Robbie, though. He didn't seem to understand the oddity of being introduced to someone's parents in a resting place for the dead. He extended his hand towards my folks as politely as if he were my date, picking me up at my house. My father was a teeniest bit taken aback at first, but recovered and shook McAfee's hand. "Robert McAfee. Pleased to meet you, sir." he said. Then he shook my mother's hand. "You as well, ma'am."
"Likewise," said my father, in a tone I knew was amused.
"Your daughter and I are collecting samples for a biology lab. I hope she didn't worry you." What?!? Was this Weirder McAfee talking? I gave him a shocked look.
"Oh, we didn't know she was here." said dad.
"We're here on...personal business." my mother offered. "You two just get back to your...sample-hunting."
I guess that was all the dismissal Robbie needed because he nodded and went back to looking over his cotton swab. My mother flicked her eyebrows towards the door and I walked after my parents outside.
"Seems like a good kid," was dad's first comment once we were out of earshot.
My mother raised an eyebrow. "So, mom, what are you and dad doing out here?" It was the foremost question on my mind.
It was my father who answered. "A couple of disappearances were reported, teens, very mysterious. The LA field office gave us a call, seeing as how we have a history with 'mysterious'."
"It was also nice that we just happened to be only agents in the vicinity." my mother added witheringly.
I was confused. "Agents?" I echoed. "You quit the bureau."
It was mom's turn to look confused. "That's right. We did. We were just called in as experts." she said, not losing that confused look. She looked a little like she was lost.
"Anyhow, your mom and I were investigating the last place the most recent victims were seen. That park across the street. Then..." Dad pointed to somewhere behind him.
"We decided to come in here and have a look around, and that's when we found you two." finished mom. My parents. Always finishing each other's sentences.
I realized immediately they were talking about Nothla-related disappearances. "Who were the victims?" I asked.
Again, my parents shared a look. "Sweetheart, I don't see how it's any of your concern." my mom finally volunteered.
"Well, of course it's my concern, I'm the..." I caught myself in time. "...same age group as most of them. Maybe I even knew them. Maybe they even went to school with me!"
Mom and dad couldn't debate that. "Names were Viv Carlton and Peter Delinksy. Seniors at Sunnydale High." offered my father.
"Um, I think I've heard of them. Viv was on the school paper, I think. Peter was on the swim team. Cute couple." I said.
"They were a couple?" asked mom. She made it sound like critical info.
I took a moment to think. Viv had been a medium-height brunette who wrote music reviews for the paper. She'd always been quick to smile at me, even though she was senior and always had headphones clamped over her ears. Peter, I recalled, had been dark-haired and tall and beyond that I couldn't remember anything. Except that they'd been dating for about two weeks. "Uh-huh. For a couple of weeks. Why?"
"Just something we'll check out," replied dad, which wasn't much of an answer.
"We'll see you at home for dinner, sweetie. Don't be too late, all right?" continued my mother. Finishing each other's sentences, again.
"Tell that McAfee boy we said good-bye." called dad over his shoulder and he and my mom left.
I watched them go and all of a sudden, I got a very uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach. I wasn't sure I wanted my parents investigating this whole Nothla thing. Heck, I wasn't sure *I* wanted to be investigating this Nothla thing. It was true my parents had had years of experience in the FBI, with the X-files, that they were experts, if there ever were any. But I couldn't help thinking how even with a slayer's superpowers, she can still succumb to a vampire god's wrath. And what of my mere mortal parents? No. I didn't like them working on this case. I didn't like it at all.
Later that night, Winford and I decided to do a duo patrol - coz he thought that two heads would be better than one. Like, duh? I'd told him about Viv and Peter and I think that got him sorta freaked. What got him downright freaked, though, was that my folks were investigating. "I'm not certain that's such a good idea," he'd said, chewing his lower lip.
Okay, now they're my parents and like I said, I really didn't like them diddling in demonic forces, either, but give me a break. They're trained professionals! My watcher was making them out to be a pair of amateurs. "I'll have you know my parents have had more than their fair share of...paranormal investigations. My dad can quote spooky stats around you any day." I'd said indignantly.
Winford obviously got the negative vibe because he dropped the topic. We'd rendezvoused at the cemetery at six, just before sunset (I'd told my parents there was urgent shelving to be had - seriously, adults will fall for anything!). Winford was weighed down with a bag full of something. My guess was slaying supplies. I had a stake in the back pocket of my jeans. I'd learned early on that slaying is a job that is best accomplished with the minimum amount of equipment. A stake is all you really need; the other stuff just weighs you down, and you almost never get a chance to use any of it. "What's in the bag?" I asked sarcastically. "Mini bar?"
He dropped the bag with a thud, exhaling loudly. "Materials for a protection spell. It should keep the vampires at bay - at least for tonight."
"Sounds like a plan. Let's get to it."
We hauled the bag into the cemetery, Winford explaining that he would cast a sort of protective dome over the place. "According to what I read, the vampires must remain within a resting place for the dead for the duration of the Nothla ceremony. Therefore, if we trap them in here for tonight, they can't collect any more hapless victims."
"At least for tonight," I added. "But I'll take it."
He began spreading out his stuff, and since after a few minutes I realized I was more of a bother than a help, I stepped out of his salt circle (according to Winford, vampires detest salt) and did some light patrolling. The sun had set and it was darn quiet.
I walked back to where Winford was kneeling in his salt circle with a bunch of lit candles surrounding him. "Whoa, intense." I breathed.
"Yes, quite. Now, Candy, listen. Once I start the spell, I can't be interrupted or I'll have to start all over again. And since it takes about three hours, it would be better if I wasn't interrupted." He looked meaningfully at me.
I threw up my hands. "Hey, enough said. No talking. I get it. Geez, all you had to say was 'Shhhh'." I complained.
Winford threw me a frustrated look and I pretended to zip my lips. "No talking, promise. See, I'm walking away."
When I was out of earshot, I began dictating a letter to Maureen. "The librarian has a stick up his..."
"Caaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnndddddddddddyyyyyyyyyy!"
My name reverberated through the night air. It was coming from Winford's direction. I ran as fast as I could back to where I'd left him and saw that he was surrounded by six vamps, all in game face and snarling like crazy. They were momentarily stunned by the salt circle, but I could see them racking their brains on how to get in. I pulled the stake out of my pocket. "Hello, boys."
They all rushed me at once, but I managed to dust them in quick order. All except for me, a short weasly looking one who was real quick on his toes. "What are you, a kid-sized version of a vampire?" I asked mockingly.
That kinda ticked him off because he growled and flung himself at me. I put up my arms to block him, but I shouldn't have bothered. His flight was cut short by a wide beam of very bright white light. He yelped like an injured dog and went crashing to the ground, hissing and burning where the light had hit him. Regaining my senses I rushed forward and staked him through the heart. It disappeared in a cloud of gray.
It was at that point that I turned to find the origin of the saving light. Winford was already gaping. I don't think I could have been more surprised to see a mutant dandelion, because lo and behold, it was Robert "Weirder" McAfee himself.