Title: Trembling Stars
Author: Christa Weald
Email: vampyrehunteruk@yahoo.co.uk
Disclaimer: Buffy and co are property of Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy, this
fic is written for fun and no other reason.
Summary: Post 'Gift', slight AU. A new Slayer arrives in Sunnydale bringing
with her a few shady secrets and some unwelcome company, if that's not bad
enough Dawn becomes a vampire, sired by Spike.
Author's notes: feedback, comments, suggestions would be appreciated.
^word^ = thought *word* = italics //word// = telepathic talking
Part 1
No matter how many ways the well dressed British woman tried to explain it to her, it just made no sense to Cynthia. She'd heard the whole save the world from darkness speech before.
"I think you must have me confused with someone else," Cynthia insisted.
Luckily for her, at school she was no one special, so none of the really popular people noticed the British woman approach her and cart her off after school.
The woman hadn't even told Cynthia her name yet. Cynthia found herself following the woman through the falling snow to her car. She had been looking forward to walking home with the white flakes dancing around her. Instead she had wound up going with some stranger to find out about her 'destiny'.
"There is no mistake," the woman insisted, opening a door for her in a sleek black Mercedes. "You are the Chosen One, the - "
"To rid the world of the spread of evil, whatever. Yeah, I heard you the first time." She got in the car while the British woman got in the driver's side and started the engine, driving off.
"So where are we going?"
"A place called Sunnydale where you will meet your Watcher."
"And battle the beasties of the Hellmouth. I was under the impression there was already a Slayer in Sunnydale."
"There was, but she made a noble sacrifice to save the human world. That means a new Slayer has to be called to replace her."
They travelled in uncomfortable silence for a while. Cynthia sighed. She knew all about Sunnydale's dark little secret, and about Slayers. It seemed so unlikely that she could actually be one. Her Boss was just going to *love* that.
How was she going to explain this one without getting her ass kicked? Maybe the Boss would understand. ^And maybe pigs will fly^ she thought.
She wondered what would happen with her ordinary life now she was supposed to take that of Slayer. Leaving everything behind and starting something new with a different purpose. Okay, her social status at school left little to be desired, but as fun as she was sure it would have been to be someone, she made her name known elsewhere. She was supposed to turn her back on that and be a Slayer. Not exactly thrilling.
"From what I heard, the first Slayer died very briefly about five years ago and a new one was called to replace her, giving two Slayers, one was killed by a vampire and another was called to replace *her* so why isn't she doing the original's job?"
The British woman looked at her curiously. "How do you know about this? The legend of the Slayers is supposed to be kept secret. If everyone knows who she is, then the demons know who to look for."
Cynthia nodded. She could understand the whole secret identity thing; unfortunately these latest Slayers didn't. Word on got around the underworld vines. "That's one of the advantages of being a nobody, you tend to hear a lot." She couldn't give too much away.
"The Slayer Faith is currently incarcerated, and we need a Slayer who isn't. Decisions were made, rituals were performed and you were Chosen."
"Great," Cynthia said hollowly. She couldn't express enthusiasm for something she really didn't want to do. It didn't look like there was going to be anything she could do to weasel out of this one.
Whether she wanted to or not, she was on her way to be the Slayer in Demon Central. ^How could things be any worse?^ she thought moodily.
* * *
Part 1
No matter how many ways the well dressed British woman tried to explain it to her, it just made no sense to Cynthia. She'd heard the whole save the world from darkness speech before.
"I think you must have me confused with someone else," Cynthia insisted.
Luckily for her, at school she was no one special, so none of the really popular people noticed the British woman approach her and cart her off after school.
The woman hadn't even told Cynthia her name yet. Cynthia found herself following the woman through the falling snow to her car. She had been looking forward to walking home with the white flakes dancing around her. Instead she had wound up going with some stranger to find out about her 'destiny'.
"There is no mistake," the woman insisted, opening a door for her in a sleek black Mercedes. "You are the Chosen One, the - "
"To rid the world of the spread of evil, whatever. Yeah, I heard you the first time." She got in the car while the British woman got in the driver's side and started the engine, driving off.
"So where are we going?"
"A place called Sunnydale where you will meet your Watcher."
"And battle the beasties of the Hellmouth. I was under the impression there was already a Slayer in Sunnydale."
"There was, but she made a noble sacrifice to save the human world. That means a new Slayer has to be called to replace her."
They travelled in uncomfortable silence for a while. Cynthia sighed. She knew all about Sunnydale's dark little secret, and about Slayers. It seemed so unlikely that she could actually be one. Her Boss was just going to *love* that.
How was she going to explain this one without getting her ass kicked? Maybe the Boss would understand. ^And maybe pigs will fly^ she thought.
She wondered what would happen with her ordinary life now she was supposed to take that of Slayer. Leaving everything behind and starting something new with a different purpose. Okay, her social status at school left little to be desired, but as fun as she was sure it would have been to be someone, she made her name known elsewhere. She was supposed to turn her back on that and be a Slayer. Not exactly thrilling.
"From what I heard, the first Slayer died very briefly about five years ago and a new one was called to replace her, giving two Slayers, one was killed by a vampire and another was called to replace *her* so why isn't she doing the original's job?"
The British woman looked at her curiously. "How do you know about this? The legend of the Slayers is supposed to be kept secret. If everyone knows who she is, then the demons know who to look for."
Cynthia nodded. She could understand the whole secret identity thing; unfortunately these latest Slayers didn't. Word on got around the underworld vines. "That's one of the advantages of being a nobody, you tend to hear a lot." She couldn't give too much away.
"The Slayer Faith is currently incarcerated, and we need a Slayer who isn't. Decisions were made, rituals were performed and you were Chosen."
"Great," Cynthia said hollowly. She couldn't express enthusiasm for something she really didn't want to do. It didn't look like there was going to be anything she could do to weasel out of this one.
Whether she wanted to or not, she was on her way to be the Slayer in Demon Central. ^How could things be any worse?^ she thought moodily.
* * *