**

CHAPTER TEN

Jessie was scared, plain and simple. Terrified. He knew it wasn't very fitting to say so, but he was, and he didn't think he could hide it from his Mistress.

Darla would not be happy. No, not happy at all. He dreaded the thought of telling her.

The Slayer was here. In Buffonia.

Not happy at all.

Jesse was trapped by the daylight, forced to stay inside until night fell. Then he would go to his Mistress, tell her the news, and hope he wouldn't get staked right there on the spot.

He was fed up with being Darla's minion. Of course, he would never tell that to anyone, lest he risk expulsion from the ranks. Sure, being a childe of Darla wasn't a loving experience, but at least you were protected. It was better than being alone, left to fend for yourself. Jesse had been seriously contemplating leaving the fold, going out on his own. With the apparent return of the Slayer, he quickly struck down those thoughts.

Stick together. Stay together. That would be the motto of vampires in Buffonia until the Slayer was killed. Until then, it was a game of constant vigilance, at least for Jesse. Darla would no doubt have a plan to crush the Slayer, make her suffer and curse the day she was born, but Jesse was going to be safe nonetheless. Darla had his allegiance, but not always his faith.

The sun was setting quickly, darkness overtaking the village. He could leave his confines soon, just as the last rays of the sun touched the earth. People were scurrying about outside his rooms and through the thatched walls and windows he saw them and felt the Hunger. The call of their blood. He was hungry.

He quelled his desire and sighed as the last people hurried past his shaded window. People knew to stay indoors after dark, vampires had to catch stragglers in the twilight if they wanted to eat. He was regretful, and hungry, but he knew he had a job to do. If this Slayer was as strong as the last one, they were in for a fight.

Jesse was young, still a fledgling, but he'd heard stories from the Elders about the last Buffonian Slayer. She had caused mass hysteria among the vampire community, and it was only quieted by her death. By Darla's hands, of course- that was how she came so far in the vampire ranks. She was the favorite childe of her Master, when he was conveniently killed Darla took over the line, the Order of Aurelius. By killing the Slayer, she was given something better than leadership-- infamy.

The sun had set and full darkness had descended itself upon the village. Jesse exited his daytime refuge glad to be out in the open air. He remembered his life as a human. No, he didn't miss it, but from time to time he did miss the potential for fresh air.

The town was deserted at night, only vampires walked after nightfall. The people knew nothing about vampires, but they did know that those who stayed out after dark generally didn't come home.

He was nervous. He neared Darla's quarters and fear overtook him, almost paralyzing him. What if Darla staked him? If he told her the news, there was a possibility. Darla was known for her outbursts of fury, and no one was exempt. What if he didn't tell her? If she found out he didn't tell her, then he'd definitely be staked. Weighing his options, he began walking again.

He reached Darla's rooms much sooner than he would have liked, time always going faster when you don't want it to. Jesse admired the vampire's headquarters. There was a dark romanticism about it; lush colors and fabrics accented the dimly lit room where Darla conducted her business. She turned humans in this room, humans lured by her beauty and promises.

She hadn't turned anyone for a while though, nearly a year. She was angered, the one she wanted to turn wouldn't come willingly, and until then she had stopped all turning by all vampires in her line. Everyday that passed by that she failed to turn her conquest, she grew more and more irate.

Darla was a fearsome vampiress, powerful and the head of the Aurelius line. She held Jesse's existence in her hands; she could end his unlife on a whim. Jessie was more than frightened of her. But an irate Darla-- Jesse was terrified.

He had even considered bringing in her conquest by force, just to get it over with. No, not with Darla. Always doing it the hard way. He could just injure Liam so he'd be on the brink of death, then deliver him to Darla to turn. But no, Darla liked the Chase.

Darla lay on her bed, her favorite childe, Druscilla with her. Sometimes he envied Druscilla, the attention she got from the Mistress. But most of the time he didn't-- it was said that she was crazy, she had visions and could read minds. He didn't know though, because Dru never strayed far enough away from Darla to have a conversation. He really hoped she couldn't see what he was thinking now.

Jesse thought of the news he was about to share. The Slayer was back in Buffonia, and she was a Princess at that. A Council of Elders would have to be called, alerting everyone of her presence. Plans would be formed, alliances would be made (and probably broken), quiet panic would descend upon the vampire community. Still, it had to be done. He approached his Mistress and her childe.

Druscilla giggled a sound that was enough to chill Jesse's undead bones. She put a finger up to her mouth, indicating quiet. "Somebody's got a secret..." she said in a singsong voice that could have belonged to a young child.

Darla's eyes hardened and Jesse's fear rose up a notch. "You wished for an audience," she said, annoyed that the young fledgling would have the audacity to request it.

"Y-yes, Mistress," Jesse stuttered in fear.

"Well?" Darla asked, her annoyance even more evident.

"T-the Slayer, Mistress. She has returned," Jesse said gravely, trying not to stutter as he did so.

Darla had not really been paying attention, but she jerked her head violently to face the young vampire. "What?" she asked dangerously, as if daring him to retract his statement.

"The new Slayer has been called. I saw her kill last night, but I was caught by the sun," said Jesse nervously, explaining himself.

"Well? Who is she?" Darla asked forcefully. "Is she strong?" she added as an afterthought.

Jesse gulped. Now for the big news. This could cause even more problems than the return of the Slayer.

"Princess Elizabeth," he said quietly.

Darla looked at him strangely. "What about her?" she asked exasperatedly.

"She's the new Slayer," he revealed, "but she looked untrained."

Darla smiled an evil grin, one with such malice it scared Jesse. "Interesting," she said simply.

"You may go," she told Jesse, dismissing him. He turned to leave, but Darla called him back.

"That was very good of you, Jesse," she said. It sounded like ordinary praise, but Jesse knew it was something else. Darla didn't give praise, except to Druscilla.

"Thank you," said Jesse warily, moving to go.

"Oh, and Jesse?" she called.

He turned to her, only to have a wooden stake plunged into his heart.

Druscilla laughed in delight as Darla wiped Jesse's ashes from her hands.

**

END CHAPTER 10

A/N- Short chapter, I know, but we got some nice little revelations don't we? Where is Donna taking this, you ask? Well, mwoohaha!! You'll just have to wait until the next chapter. Review Sundevil009@yahoo.com