Chapter One
It was a cool autumn night. Rusted lamps dimly lighted the streets of Rome. Buffy was walking calmly. She was wearing dusty, boot cut jeans and a black, zipper sweatshirt that revealed a little of her white t-shirt underneath. Suspended from her neck was a thin, silver necklace, holding a small silver heart on the end. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail, a few wisps fallen.
Buffy was observing her surroundings. She'd faced two vampires already tonight. The first one gave her a good run, disconnecting her shoulder. She slammed him against a tree, stabbing a broken twig through his chest. He tried jumping off before turning to dust. She popped her shoulder into place by bracing her arm against a tree and using her useful slayer strength to push it back in.
The second was a girl who resorted to chick fighting. She pulled her hair and clawed her, leaving three slashes on Buffy's collarbone. She kicked her and knocked the vamp into a headstone, making the girl cry in pain. "You suck as a vampire. Consider this a favor," was Buffy's comment before staking her through the heart.
Slaying was becoming more of a drive. She did it to feel a part of something. Dawn left for college in England two months ago, thanks to Giles. She called once and awhile talking about her cool roommate that shares her clothes and her friendly teachers that are looking out for her. She'd try slipping in how Buffy's support was important as well, but Buffy knew she was just saying that.
Giles and Willow were off doing the watcher thing in London. They're now the head of the council and are recruiting new watchers. Giles met a woman; Callie Storms, while searching for new subjects. They're three weeks strong in the dating game. Willow and Kennedy are still together. Kennedy's apparently training hard to be a great slayer while Willow's practicing spells and centering her energies.
And Xander's trying to get over the loss of Anya. That part of him will never heal, but he's making through the days. He's helping Giles and Willow by researching places of potentials and types of demons. He's come very far in the study area.
Buffy was still in Rome, presently looking for vampires. She spotted a suspicious character, leading a girl into an alleyway. "Why can't girls conclude that a guy leading you into a dark place, where no one goes, is bad? I'm seriously offended to be a woman. How can someone be that incompetent?" As Buffy was proclaiming this, the guy was escorting his victim further down the alley. Buffy paced forward, placing her hand firmly on the stake concealed in her pocket.
The girl started to scream as the man showed his true face. "Excuse me," Buffy said innocently. The vampire faced her and growled. "Don't you know not to eat a girl on the first date?" The vampire smiled, his fangs glowed in the dim light. "Now, let's let the poor girl go so you and I can have some alone time."
"Who do you think you are?" he asked in a raspy voice.
"I think I'm the Slayer, but let's test that theory." Buffy ran towards him and landed a right kick across his face. He fell to the ground, the girl falling loose from his grip. "Run now," Buffy suggested. The girl's breath was uneasy. She ran away, occasionally looking back.
The vampire jumped to its feet. Buffy was in fighting stance. The vampire charged, throwing a punch to her face. Buffy blocked it and kicked him in the stomach. He staggered back. The vampire did a back kick, which Buffy blocked with her left arm. She backhand punched him in the face and jabbed her elbow in his gut. She grasped his right arm, spun around and lifted it up, making him fall to his knees in pain. He elbowed her in the kidney and made her fall on her side. Buffy rolled to her back and flipped to her feet. She pulled out her stake and looked at him angrily. The vampire snarled and ran towards her. She put her right arm on his back and slammed him into the wall. She smashed her stake in his chest. He kicked up his right foot, knocking Buffy on her back, before he turned to dust. "That wasn't fair." Buffy pushed herself off the ground and dusted herself off.
Buffy bent down to grab her stake, but paused for a moment, hearing someone approach. She snatched her stake and spun around. Her attack was blocked. "Careful, someone could lose an eye with that thing."
Buffy caught a glimpse of who it was. "Angel."
"Hey Buffy."