Summary: Chandra's heritage comes forward, bringing about... you guessed it. The Apocalypse.
4th in the "Cold Summer Series"
Sentences in //are vision//
*~*~*
Cordelia stuffed the last of her clothes into the duffel bag and balanced the phone on her shoulder. "So you're sure it's okay if I crash there?"
Willow's voice was cheery on the other end. "Sure! It'll be great!"
"Perfect. I'll be there this evening!" She hung up the phone and flung her bag over her shoulder. "Ready!" She called out to the living room.
Wesley looked into her bedroom. "Good God! Five bags? Cordelia, we're not going to be moving there!"
*~*~*
As the chime rang over the door of the Magic Box, Giles had to hold his breath. "Olivia."
She smiled as she walked in. "'Ello, Ripper."
He returned her smile. "You look marvelous." He greeted her with a hug. "And you're a watcher?"
She nodded. "I know you're supposed to be trained at a young age for this, but there were special circumstances with Chandra."
"Such as?"
She took a seat. "She is of a special type of blood. She is of an ancient decent of seers."
"She has the sight?"
"But there's a catch. She dreams her visions. Only while she sleeps do they appear. She has sleeping troubles because of it."
"Surely it's helped with the slaying though. I mean, to an extent, all slayers have visions in their dreams."
"Every night? Every time she closes her eyes? She wakes and still hears the screams." Olivia looked down. "She is a good girl."
"That still doesn't explain how you became her watcher."
"That's simple. I found out I was from the same decent. Not as thick in the bloodline, but close enough that I can help her through the visions when she needs me."
*~*~*
"No!" Chandra screamed and sat up in bed, panting and sweating.
Angel was by her in a second, wrapping his arms around her. "Chandra?" He kept his voice calm and soothing. "Chandra, wake up."
She clung to him and shivered. "A-A-Angel?"
He rubbed her back. "It was just a dream. It's okay."
"No. No. It's not just a dream." She locked her cool eyes with his. "Not a dream."
"What do you mean?"
"A vision." She reached up a hand and let her fingers brush his face.
He gently took her hand. "What was the vision?"
She slowly shook her head. "You don't want to know." She leaned up and pressed her lips to his, gently massaging his lips with her kiss. He moaned and instinctively held her closer, opening his kiss to her. Her tongue, warm and velvety made its way into the cold of his mouth, tasting him. He slowly laid her back in the bed and let his hands trace over her delicate curves as she arched herself to him. Her hands deftly unbuttoned his shirt and pushed it from his shoulders, her fingers tracing the lines on the tattoo. He growled low at her touch and moved his kisses down to her neck. Free from his lips, she moaned his name and whimpered at his touch.
*~*~*
"There's more." Olivia sipped her tea and crossed her legs.
"More? Like what?" Giles sat across from her and sipped his own cup.
"There's more about her blood. She is life."
"She is what?"
"Her blood gives life. She heals almost instantly from non-fatal wounds and I've watched her when she thought she was alone." She set her cup down. "There was a baby bird that had fallen from a tree. It was dead. She picked it up and brought it inside. When she thought I was gone, she pricked her finger and put some blood in the bird's mouth. The bird came to life."
"Good Lord!"
"She gives life to death. Which is another reason we have to watch her so closely."
"She could be a very powerful tool if she fell into the wrong hands."
"That's not all." Olivia took another drink. "We've learned from Buffy relations with Angel. If Chandra were to... have relations with a vampire, it is possible for her to become impregnated with the demon spawn."
Giles set his cup aside. "But surely she's not willing to risk sexual relations with a vampire. Angel was cursed with a soul."
Olivia nodded. "That's what I hope. She is a very bright girl, but sometimes she lets her emotions get the best of her."
*~*~*
The sheets were mingled with sweat and the musk of sex. Chandra curled up against Angel's side. He stared up at the ceiling and sighed. He didn't know what had come over him. Why risk his soul with someone like Chandra? It was simple. He knew she had needed the comfort and he knew that he didn't love her. So there was no threat of the true moment of happiness.
No threat at all.
*~*~*
Cordelia fell back with the impact of her vision and cried out. Willow rushed to her side as Tara grabbed a pillow to put behind her head. "Cordy!" Willow yelped. "What's wrong?"
Cordelia held her hand to her head. "Vision..."
Tara took a few steps back. "What of?"
//rushing, pumping, flowing red blood, rushing pumping//
"I... I'm not sure... It's... blood. Just blood flowing."
//through the veins to the heart to the core of white light, white light to the brain to the eyes of the prophet to the eyes of//
Cordelia sat up. "Chandra."
Willow furrowed her brow. "Is she hurt?"
She shook her head. "I don't think so. The blood was in her veins. And there was this light. It was like, coming from inside of her." She took a slow breath. "We should call the guys. Get everyone together and find out what this means."
Willow looked to Tara who was by the door. "Tara? What's wrong?"
Tara shook her head. "I-I-I d-don't want to go."
Willow stood and went to her lover. "You okay?" She rubbed her arms reassuringly.
The blonde shook her head. "J-j-just take her th-there. I'll b-be fine."
*~*~*
The extended Scooby gang gathered in the Magic Box about a half an hour later minus the two vampires waiting for sunset. It seemed odd to Chandra to have so many people to help her, but it was a nice comfort to know she wasn't alone. She had tried to understand each member of the group and had come to some understanding of each of them.
Giles and Olivia had seemed to hit it off right away. But then again, Chandra had heard rumors of their past. Two watchers. Their knowledge was greatly needed.
Wesley and Gunn seemed to fumble through the group as though they didn't belong. She understood how Wesley was a bit uncomfortable with the Council's presence since he'd been fired and almost killed by them and Gunn was strictly LA. He had no connections here.
Fred had made a connection to Willow and the absent Tara with their quiet and powerful ways. Xander threw in a few jokes and kept it lighthearted. Anya was still weary of the new slayer as well as jealous of the ex-girlfriend Cordelia.
The former Slayer's sibling had declined the invitation to come.
Cordelia had told of her vision to the group and was met with silence. Chandra view each reaction and caught the eyes of the two watchers. The wide eyes. "What is it?" she asked.
Olivia cleared her throat and looked down. "Perhaps this is something best discussed in private."
"Private my ass!" Cordelia piped up. "My head is still throbbing! What the hell did the vision mean?"
Wesley rested his hands on Cordy's shoulders. "It's alright."
Giles nodded. "For once, Cordelia, I think you may be right. This is something that should be told to the group."
Olivia's eyes flashed with anger. "It is none of their concern!"
"If it means that there is danger to others then it is!" he snapped back.
She fumed and grabbed her purse. "Fine then. You tell them." She stormed out.
Anya looked confused. "How rude."
"So, uh, Giles?" Xander quirked. "What is it you wanted to tell us?"
He sat down. "Chandra's blood is life giving."
All eyes fell on the slayer.
Giles continued. "Perhaps Cordelia's vision is saying that someone is planning on using her blood to..."
"No," Cordelia stated.
"Pardon?"
"No. It was like her body was using the blood. Something in her."
"But how on Earth could that happen unless..." He looked to Chandra and swallowed. "Chandra, are you a virgin?"
The slayer snorted. "Not that it's any of your business, but no. I haven't been for a while. Why?"
"Who have you slept with recently?"
"Once again, not your business." She stood.
"Was it a vampire?"
She froze. "Why?"
"Because if it was, you could be pregnant. And your child could be the bringer of the end of the world." He took off his glasses.
Fred's voice chimed, "Now don't be silly. She's a slayer. She wouldn't sleep with a dirty old vampire."
Chandra looked at the ground. "It's not like I knew..."
Gunn held up his hand. "Uh, question here. Who was this vamp?"
Xander stood. "I think we know the answer to that." He looked to Giles. "Can I stake him now?"
Gunn shook his head. "Wait a minute. Angel?"
Tears spilled over Chandra's eyes. "I didn't know!" She backed up a few steps. "I didn't know! It's not fair!"
Gunn stood by her side. "Hey, it's okay. We'll figure this out."
Anya nodded, smiling brightly. "This is like the fifth or sixth Apocalypse. I'm sure it'll be fine. I mean, good always wins, right?"
4th in the "Cold Summer Series"
Sentences in //are vision//
*~*~*
Cordelia stuffed the last of her clothes into the duffel bag and balanced the phone on her shoulder. "So you're sure it's okay if I crash there?"
Willow's voice was cheery on the other end. "Sure! It'll be great!"
"Perfect. I'll be there this evening!" She hung up the phone and flung her bag over her shoulder. "Ready!" She called out to the living room.
Wesley looked into her bedroom. "Good God! Five bags? Cordelia, we're not going to be moving there!"
*~*~*
As the chime rang over the door of the Magic Box, Giles had to hold his breath. "Olivia."
She smiled as she walked in. "'Ello, Ripper."
He returned her smile. "You look marvelous." He greeted her with a hug. "And you're a watcher?"
She nodded. "I know you're supposed to be trained at a young age for this, but there were special circumstances with Chandra."
"Such as?"
She took a seat. "She is of a special type of blood. She is of an ancient decent of seers."
"She has the sight?"
"But there's a catch. She dreams her visions. Only while she sleeps do they appear. She has sleeping troubles because of it."
"Surely it's helped with the slaying though. I mean, to an extent, all slayers have visions in their dreams."
"Every night? Every time she closes her eyes? She wakes and still hears the screams." Olivia looked down. "She is a good girl."
"That still doesn't explain how you became her watcher."
"That's simple. I found out I was from the same decent. Not as thick in the bloodline, but close enough that I can help her through the visions when she needs me."
*~*~*
"No!" Chandra screamed and sat up in bed, panting and sweating.
Angel was by her in a second, wrapping his arms around her. "Chandra?" He kept his voice calm and soothing. "Chandra, wake up."
She clung to him and shivered. "A-A-Angel?"
He rubbed her back. "It was just a dream. It's okay."
"No. No. It's not just a dream." She locked her cool eyes with his. "Not a dream."
"What do you mean?"
"A vision." She reached up a hand and let her fingers brush his face.
He gently took her hand. "What was the vision?"
She slowly shook her head. "You don't want to know." She leaned up and pressed her lips to his, gently massaging his lips with her kiss. He moaned and instinctively held her closer, opening his kiss to her. Her tongue, warm and velvety made its way into the cold of his mouth, tasting him. He slowly laid her back in the bed and let his hands trace over her delicate curves as she arched herself to him. Her hands deftly unbuttoned his shirt and pushed it from his shoulders, her fingers tracing the lines on the tattoo. He growled low at her touch and moved his kisses down to her neck. Free from his lips, she moaned his name and whimpered at his touch.
*~*~*
"There's more." Olivia sipped her tea and crossed her legs.
"More? Like what?" Giles sat across from her and sipped his own cup.
"There's more about her blood. She is life."
"She is what?"
"Her blood gives life. She heals almost instantly from non-fatal wounds and I've watched her when she thought she was alone." She set her cup down. "There was a baby bird that had fallen from a tree. It was dead. She picked it up and brought it inside. When she thought I was gone, she pricked her finger and put some blood in the bird's mouth. The bird came to life."
"Good Lord!"
"She gives life to death. Which is another reason we have to watch her so closely."
"She could be a very powerful tool if she fell into the wrong hands."
"That's not all." Olivia took another drink. "We've learned from Buffy relations with Angel. If Chandra were to... have relations with a vampire, it is possible for her to become impregnated with the demon spawn."
Giles set his cup aside. "But surely she's not willing to risk sexual relations with a vampire. Angel was cursed with a soul."
Olivia nodded. "That's what I hope. She is a very bright girl, but sometimes she lets her emotions get the best of her."
*~*~*
The sheets were mingled with sweat and the musk of sex. Chandra curled up against Angel's side. He stared up at the ceiling and sighed. He didn't know what had come over him. Why risk his soul with someone like Chandra? It was simple. He knew she had needed the comfort and he knew that he didn't love her. So there was no threat of the true moment of happiness.
No threat at all.
*~*~*
Cordelia fell back with the impact of her vision and cried out. Willow rushed to her side as Tara grabbed a pillow to put behind her head. "Cordy!" Willow yelped. "What's wrong?"
Cordelia held her hand to her head. "Vision..."
Tara took a few steps back. "What of?"
//rushing, pumping, flowing red blood, rushing pumping//
"I... I'm not sure... It's... blood. Just blood flowing."
//through the veins to the heart to the core of white light, white light to the brain to the eyes of the prophet to the eyes of//
Cordelia sat up. "Chandra."
Willow furrowed her brow. "Is she hurt?"
She shook her head. "I don't think so. The blood was in her veins. And there was this light. It was like, coming from inside of her." She took a slow breath. "We should call the guys. Get everyone together and find out what this means."
Willow looked to Tara who was by the door. "Tara? What's wrong?"
Tara shook her head. "I-I-I d-don't want to go."
Willow stood and went to her lover. "You okay?" She rubbed her arms reassuringly.
The blonde shook her head. "J-j-just take her th-there. I'll b-be fine."
*~*~*
The extended Scooby gang gathered in the Magic Box about a half an hour later minus the two vampires waiting for sunset. It seemed odd to Chandra to have so many people to help her, but it was a nice comfort to know she wasn't alone. She had tried to understand each member of the group and had come to some understanding of each of them.
Giles and Olivia had seemed to hit it off right away. But then again, Chandra had heard rumors of their past. Two watchers. Their knowledge was greatly needed.
Wesley and Gunn seemed to fumble through the group as though they didn't belong. She understood how Wesley was a bit uncomfortable with the Council's presence since he'd been fired and almost killed by them and Gunn was strictly LA. He had no connections here.
Fred had made a connection to Willow and the absent Tara with their quiet and powerful ways. Xander threw in a few jokes and kept it lighthearted. Anya was still weary of the new slayer as well as jealous of the ex-girlfriend Cordelia.
The former Slayer's sibling had declined the invitation to come.
Cordelia had told of her vision to the group and was met with silence. Chandra view each reaction and caught the eyes of the two watchers. The wide eyes. "What is it?" she asked.
Olivia cleared her throat and looked down. "Perhaps this is something best discussed in private."
"Private my ass!" Cordelia piped up. "My head is still throbbing! What the hell did the vision mean?"
Wesley rested his hands on Cordy's shoulders. "It's alright."
Giles nodded. "For once, Cordelia, I think you may be right. This is something that should be told to the group."
Olivia's eyes flashed with anger. "It is none of their concern!"
"If it means that there is danger to others then it is!" he snapped back.
She fumed and grabbed her purse. "Fine then. You tell them." She stormed out.
Anya looked confused. "How rude."
"So, uh, Giles?" Xander quirked. "What is it you wanted to tell us?"
He sat down. "Chandra's blood is life giving."
All eyes fell on the slayer.
Giles continued. "Perhaps Cordelia's vision is saying that someone is planning on using her blood to..."
"No," Cordelia stated.
"Pardon?"
"No. It was like her body was using the blood. Something in her."
"But how on Earth could that happen unless..." He looked to Chandra and swallowed. "Chandra, are you a virgin?"
The slayer snorted. "Not that it's any of your business, but no. I haven't been for a while. Why?"
"Who have you slept with recently?"
"Once again, not your business." She stood.
"Was it a vampire?"
She froze. "Why?"
"Because if it was, you could be pregnant. And your child could be the bringer of the end of the world." He took off his glasses.
Fred's voice chimed, "Now don't be silly. She's a slayer. She wouldn't sleep with a dirty old vampire."
Chandra looked at the ground. "It's not like I knew..."
Gunn held up his hand. "Uh, question here. Who was this vamp?"
Xander stood. "I think we know the answer to that." He looked to Giles. "Can I stake him now?"
Gunn shook his head. "Wait a minute. Angel?"
Tears spilled over Chandra's eyes. "I didn't know!" She backed up a few steps. "I didn't know! It's not fair!"
Gunn stood by her side. "Hey, it's okay. We'll figure this out."
Anya nodded, smiling brightly. "This is like the fifth or sixth Apocalypse. I'm sure it'll be fine. I mean, good always wins, right?"