Disclaimer: Tuesday, Ms. Weatere, Shayla, Asher, B'trli, and now *drumroll* … Saphira!
In this chapter: Tuesday's powers (and kitty), Erestdae and Isis meet a *certain* vampire, and last (but not least) Willow *might* get a job :)
Thought speak in
~*~*~
"Dawn!" a shriek echoed eerily throughout the corridors of the ancient Victorian manor. The owner of the voice gazed to the doorframe of the largest bedroom, then back in its original spot, Tuesday's petite bed. A ball of midnight black fur curled up on the sheet next to Tuesday, both peacefully snoozing. Dawn appeared with a tumble of feet and her hair seeming to be half-braided, half-loose. Buffy had probably interrupted Dawn's morning ritual of preparing herself for yet another day at Cleveland High School she hadn't been really looking forward to. "Dawn, please tell me you didn't get a little kitty off of the street and you brought it here. Specifically, you framed innocent little Tue, here."
"I didn't get a little kitty off of the street and you brought it here. Specifically, I didn't frame innocent little Tue." She retorted, denying the accusation. The little black kitten uncurled itself, yawning and stretching, as did Tuesday in nearly simultaneous motions.
Uh oh, kitty. Tuesday said mentally.
Large human creature, what is upsetting you? Came a beautiful, wispy voice into Tuesday's mind.
Aunt Buffy and Dawn can see you. Why can't anyone else? And you never mentioned your name. Is it pretty? She asked, smiling at the last question.
I am a familiar. I was sent to help you, large human creature. The larger humans see me because they are a part of the Plan…
There was a long, awkward pause between the four.
I am Saphira, she greeted majestically, which caused Dawn to giggle. Apparently, Saphira could control if it was a private thought-conversation. What is funny, human? What is so funny, that it causes you to utter those horrible sounds?
"Um, you just speak so… strangely. It sounds funny." Dawn answered.
Tuesday, I do not understand her. What is she saying? Saphira asked, cocking her little kitty head to the side.
Um… she thinks you speak funny…
I was taught to speak, it is not the correct way? she looked kind of shocked, as far as cats could express.
No, no it's fine. Just kind of… Tuesday thought about it for a moment, recalling all of those words she'd read about in the dictionary. Literate. she finished, scooping up the little black cat.
"Why can't she understand me?" Dawn asked Tuesday. She shrugged:
"Maybe it's because you aren't telepathic."
~*~*~
"She's gone…" B'trli sobbed, pounding her fist into the table, creating a hand-sized hole in it.
Buffy skipped down the stairs, opening her mouth to scold B'trli for ruining the furniture (it wasn't as if it wouldn't be ruined again) and immediately took a softer approach and sat next to the small, African-American girl. "Who's gone?" she asked, stroking her hair.
"Kennedy. The stupid selfish bit—"
"B'trli…" Buffy warned, interrupting her. She could understand why the little six-year-old was angry. Kennedy and the girl were practically Siamese twins, Kennedy always being a sort of Watcher to B'trli, going patrolling together… well, doing a lot of things together…
Buffy's thoughts then immediately came to Willow. Oh. My. God. What was Willow going to do?
Speak of the witch.
Willow, completely oblivious, ambled down the stairs with a smile.
RING.
"Hello, this is Will— oh," her smile faded. "Um, yes, I have taught before. Okay. I'll be right there." She set the receiver down. "Tuesday's teacher… and all of the others, including the substitutes they have on call… they were all murdered last night…"
"Whoa, so I'm assuming they called you?" Buffy asked.
"Uh-huh. Where's Kennedy?"
"Um… Will…"
"Cut the crap, Summers. She left us. All of us." B'trli stated, not really caring about Willow's feelings at the moment.
The redhead's pupils dilated, and she felt her fingers go numb. Don't faint, Willow. DON'T faint! "Oh… oh… oh my God…" she slumped into the chair, staring at the floor.
Willow let her muscles loosen, and she quickly drifted into unconsciousness.
~*~*~
"You stupid git! What the 'ell are ye doin' 'ere?" the overweight demon asked outside one of the many vampiric taverns set up around Cleveland. "An' why the 'ell ain't ye burning?"
"Just let me in, Karlosdos." Erestdae urged, licking off some of the blood from his lips.
"You'll be mur'er'd, stupid ass. I know a'many a'demon an' a'many a'vampire who'd love t'see ye gutted."
"Karlosdos," he warned. "I need a place to me, m'love and me do, and I don't care about the consequences."
A wicked grin spread across the demon's twisted features. "She's a mortal, eh? Turn'd a'mortal, eh? Drank t'much blood? Well, yer line tend t'have them side effects." He paused. "Isis is a'pregnant, no?"
Erestdae locked his fingers around the neck of the creature, killing him instantly. "Let's go Isis." He said, taking the girl's hand with his bloody one, and heading inside. But as soon as he stepped in, he saw someone he hadn't been in the longest time. And thank God, too.
"Spike?"