IMMORTAL LOVE chapters 4-5
By Red Crystal
DISCLAIMER: All BtVS characters are property of Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. All I own is the plot and some characters that you don't know from the show.
AN: SPECIAL THANKS TO CINDY FOR BETA THIS STORY OK this story is AU. I am big B/A fan and this is a B/A story so if you don't like these star-crossed lovers you better read something else, thank you very much. (Oh, and there is no happiness clause) Now let's start the story. Sorry guy's for long wait ******
Chapter 4
On the way to England, 1765
The ship was sailing towards England on a quiet December night. The sky was clear, the moon and stars shined softly on the dark sky above. A young beautiful young Lady stood bay the ship's fence. She was dress in light blue classy dress and a black fur coat on her shoulders. Her golden hair was swept up in artistic hairstyle. Suddenly from the shadowy corner, came a tall, dark hared man and regarded the Lady with a smile on his face.
"Hello Lover." He greeted her, as she turned around and smiled at him. He held up his hand, which had a red rose and ran the rose down her forehead, across her lips and then down her throat. The gentle caress of the rose on her skin was a wonderful and sensational feeling.
"The dawn will come soon so let's go inside." Beth said in a soft voice and held her hand to him. He smiled and took her hand in his and they left for their rooms. Before their room stood Drusilla in her white dress, in which she looked so incredibly innocent that it attracted many to their death. Angelus and Beth were proud in Drusilla's way of the hunt, she often played with her victims, invited them to tea and then locked them up in padded room, with no windows and listened to their screams of despair before she finally killed them.
"Mummy and Daddy said that we will be home soon." She sang in her sweet voice.
"Yes, Dru, soon we will be in dear old London." Beth said and smiled at her.
//Dru is such a child, yet her visions are very useful and we are a family, a real family I am so glad that I met Angelus. We had a good time together and by the look on his face I'll say there is some good times ahead of us right now, so I better get Drusilla into her room.//
"Sweetheart," Beth interrupted Drusilla's humming, "can you go to your room, I think Miss Edith would like a cup of tea."
Drusilla happily nodded, "Yes, she was good girl tonight, she should have some tea, and she liked tea." With that, Drusilla glided to her room and silently closed the door while Beth and Angelus entered their room.
After the door was closed, Beth turned to Angelus. "Do you think that Master Nest and Darla are still here, we never did pay attention to the vampire grapevine about them for years now?"
"I wouldn't know, I never pay much attention on the news concerning them and even if they are still there I won't stand before the old bat face." Angelus replayed.
"Well love, if I remember correctly you were standing before him only for a minute, but you spent quite awhile on the floor or flying through the air." She giggled. Angelus frowned, and then he grabbed her with a blur of motion, turned them around and slammed Beth's back on the door.
"You know love, you too smart for your own good!" He said while grinning. Beth grinned back and locked her hands behind his neck. They were staring into each other's eyes; their bodies pressed together in a way that they looked like one entity.
"One of us has to be." She teased him. He growled playfully and claimed her mouth with his. They had all the time in the world or until the ship docked.
******
Drusilla sat in her room and on the table before her was a teapot filled with hot tea and two cups, and across from her sat a dark-haired doll. They were having a tea party and talking about the secrets that the moon and stars were whispering about her Mummy and Daddy and the wonderful things that they would do once they hit London. The house that Angelus sent Frank to buy was completely furnished and ready for them once they got there, there were hundreds of humans waiting to be their meal for them. London will never be the same again once they landed. They will never know what hit them.
"Ah, the sweet smell of London." Angelus stated when they exited the ship, around them were the drunken sailors with their harlots hanging on their arms and moving in the dark.
"And what exactly would that sweet smell be?" Beth asked wrinkling her nose. "Because all I can smell is human waste, drink and other filth I don't want to think about."
Angelus snickered and Beth glared at him.
"So I don't like filthy alleys, they are too much like sewers and I hate sewers."
From behind them, emerged Drusilla holding Miss Edith in her hands. "Are mummy and daddy ready to go? Miss Edith and I would like to see our new happy home." Drusilla asked in childish voice.
The next night they were standing in front of their new house. It was a lovely old house with big garden. So then, the vampires entered their new home. Soon they were accepted in a high social order and were invited to many parties; the humans never knew that they were inviting death into their homes. They fed on servants and other lower classes, but rarely on noblemen and women. A week later, when Beth opened her eyes the first thing she saw was the face of her beloved mate smiling down at her. That was nothing new, he often watched her sleep and wake up every day and night, they were together always but neither he nor she grew tired of it. When he saw her eyes open, he trailed his fingers across her full lips and smiled when he heard her soft purrs. Soon he began to purr too. The tender moment was disturbed by Drusilla, who came dancing into the room and jumped on the bed. She was smiling and singing:
"They are gone, deep, deep underground, the old one will never be freed, he is trapped below, he can't move, the stars and moon are saying, he can't hurt us anymore."
Beth and Angelus just shared a look. They knew that Drusilla just had a vision. In addition, they figured out that it concerned Master Nest. However, they didn't try to force Drusilla to tell them what exactly happened to him, she would tell or sing about it when she was ready. Even though Master Nest didn't come as a threat to them, they wanted to know where he was, and apparently he was trapped underground somewhere. They discerned that from the vision. Yet, that could wait because they were in a hurry. They had to get ready for a party; they were invited by Lady Lockwood.
"Come child. Let's leave Beth to herself and get ready for the party." Angelus ordered.
"Oh, I love parties Daddy, I have to get ready. Miss Edith will be so excited because when I come back I will tell her about the party, she can't go because then people are mean to her, but we will punish them when time will come wont we Daddy, Mummy." Drusilla said jumping up and down in her excitement. Angelus and Beth chuckled.
"You certainly do like parties and yes you will punish all mean people, we have a room ready for them already."
Drusilla's eyes got big. "Really, daddy, I want to see the room, please daddy!'' she squealed.
Angelus nodded and held up a hand Drusilla grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the bedroom. Beth got up and closed the door, smiling to herself in amusement at Drusilla's behavior. Then she turned around and walked up to her wardrobe to pick a gown for this night's ball. Opening the wardrobe's doors, she came face to face with her many clothes. They were all known colors, textures, and patterns. She took out a corset and other underclothes first. Then she looked for suitable overdresses. After awhile she finally settled for an emerald green velvet dress that went with her eyes, then she took out a matching pair of shoes. She brushed her hair into a modern hairstyle with ribbons and small golden hairpins that held her long hair in place. Then she went to her jewelry box and picked out a golden necklace with emeralds and rubies and matching earrings. With some makeup, she was finally ready.
Angelus was waiting in the study, reading a book, to pass time. When Beth entered, he looked up and was awed of her appearance. Beth stopped in her tracks, and looked at him; he was incredibly handsome in his attire. He wore shiny black boots, and then she moved her gaze upward to the colored cloth that molded to his muscular legs, his dark red coat, black waistcoat with little silvery streaks, the white linen at his neck, and finally his devastatingly beautiful face. In moments like this Beth often remembered just why he was called Angelus, a demon with an angelic face, he was truly a fallen angel. Soon Drusilla joined them and they climbed into the carriage and drove off to the manor of Earl and Lady Lockwood. When they arrived the party had already started, they left their coats in the lobby, under the watchful eye of the receptionist and went to the ballroom where people were already dancing. A young man quickly asked Drusilla to dance; she giggled and accepted the invitation. Angelus went to mingle amidst the other guests looking for his meal, while Beth went to the gardens.
The gardens were beautiful, full of exotic flowers, bushes, and trees. There was a fountain in the middle of the park. There were gold fish swimming in the silvery liquid. She spotted a young servant feeding the fish with bits of bread. She smiled and went to him. When he heard her approach he looked up. She smiled at him sweetly. The servant blushed.
"Tell me young man, what a sturdy looking man doing here in the middle of the night?" She ask him with a smile. The boy's cheeks grew even redder, if that was possible.
//My what a sweet innocent little child.//
She smiled to her self. Then she sat next to the boy. They talked for a while, he told her that his name was Andrew, that he was an orphan and came to serve yesterday and that this was his first job.
// I think I just found myself my first Child. I can't bring him home like Angelus brought me, because I am his mate and not just a childe, I will leave him here by the fountain, somebody will find his body and I will wait on may childe's grave for him to raise.//
"Tell me young Andrew," she asked deciding that this young man will be her childe, "Don't you have any ambitions or wishes to became somebody important?"
Andrew thought for a minute. "I always wanted to become a traveler you know, see the world, but as I said before." He trailed off.
Beth smiled and waved her hand. "Say no more, I understand, but if I told you that there was a way for you to become everything that you have ever dreamed of, would you take it without question?"
His eyes brightened. "You would show me the world, that would be wonderful, what do you want me to do? Tell me, I will do anything? That is all I have ever wanted!" He replied excitedly.
"You just have to close your eyes and I'll do the rest." Beth smiled.
Andrew happily nodded and closed his eyes. Only to scream a second later in pain as sharp teeth bit him in the neck. He was growing weak. When Beth withdrew her fangs he just blinked at her, too weak to do anything else. She ripped open her wrist and put the now bleeding wound to his lips.
"Drink Andrew and fulfill yours dreams, come on darling." She said in soft and kind voce. And Andrew drank and fell on the grass not breathing, only to be reborn as a creature of the night. Beth watched the body of her first childe in fascination, when she was interrupted by footsteps of two people.
//Here there's come unsuspected finders I think I will stay around for entertainment. // So she hid herself in the bush. Soon she saw two people approaching, one was a man in his fifties and the other was Lady's Lockwood fifteen years old doughtier Melina. Beth felt a feeling wash over her, one similar to the feeling she had felt in Germany.
~Flashback~
Beth found herself searching for her mate, they were together for ten years now, and they weren't usually separated, she had a funny feeling that somebody was following them and she didn't like it. It made her feel like she would be the prey and not the hunter. When she came up to a small narrow ally she heard sounds of fighting. She went to look around the corner and saw Angelus fighting a young human girl, what worried Beth the most was the stake in the girl's hands. But before she interfered Angelus slammed the girl in the wall, so she slid to her knees and then kicked her in the head sending her on her back. Then he removed the stake away from her, bent down and snapped the girl's neck.
"Who was she Angelus? How can a human girl be so strong?" Beth asked her mate as she emerged from the shadows.
"She was a Slayer my love. They are girls chosen to fight us and when one is killed another is called." He answered, while turning at her.
~End flashback~
So, because of that incident she knew that Melina was the Slayer, but who was the old man?
"You see." The man said with a heavy British accent. "Your holy duty was to stop this unholy creature from making this kill, and God will punish you because you didn't believe in it. Now I know that you were not raised by the Watchers' Council, but let me make something clear to you. You are not a person anymore you are the Chosen one and you will be until you die. You will leave your family and come me, do not tell your family of anything because you will just endanger them. From now on you belong to the Watchers' Council and you will do your sacred duty. Now check the boy's mouth, if there is some blood in it."
Melina obediently opened the young boy's mouth and looked inside. "There is blood in there Sir." She said humbly, her eyes downcast.
The man nodded. "Tomorrow night you will have to wait for him to rise in the graveyard."
Melina nodded, and then turned around to gather some things before leaving to live with her watcher. Beth watched the scene from the bushes. //Now this is becoming more interesting, I wonder if Angelus will have time to go with me to the cemetery tomorrow night.// With that she left in search for her mate. The next night in cemetery, by Andrew's grave was a Slayer that stood waiting for him to rise. By her, stood a watcher. When the fresh soil stirred she went to stake him, but her watcher wanted to see her fight. So she waited for Andrew to rise, and when he came out, they fought and the watcher watched. They didn't know that behind the trees stood two vampires watching the fight with interest. The Slayer staked the vampire very fast, and then turned to her watcher with a smile on her face, waiting for praise. It never came all she got was some harsh words that she shouldn't show any emotion, and that emotions are not proper for the Slayer that a Slayer was just a weapon.
"But I think she fought well old man, you shouldn't criticize her for something you don't do." A female voice said behind them. They turned around and came face to face with a female vampire wearing a long red gown, her golden hair tied up neatly in a ponytail.
"You are a vampire." The watcher spat.
Beth smiled. "Your powers of observation is awe inspiring. My name is Beth and this,'' she motioned to the shadows, "is Angelus, my sire and mate. And you I presume are a Slayer and you stuffy old man are her watcher." Melina didn't look where Beth pointed she just stood there waiting for watcher's orders. The watcher however looked around, but seeing nothing he thought that the vampiress was alone so he ordered his Slayer to attack. Melina jumped into action, but Beth was able to block the slayer's every move. The Slayer was had only been called for a few days now, but it didn't matter because Slayers had a certain instinct when it came to slaying, but is seems that Beth possessed that instinct to. So, she had the Slayer pinned down in a matter of minutes. The watcher, seeing that his charge was dead, just turned around and left. Not knowing that he was being followed by Angelus.
******
Chapter 5
The watcher walked to his house in a slow, calm manner, like he didn't just lose his charge. Like a young girl didn't die. It didn't matter to him, because he knew that somewhere was Slayer that has just been called and the fight will go on. But what he didn't know was that a shadow was following him since he left his charge to die.
When he approached his house, he saw a carriage in front of his home. The watcher sped up his pace and entered his house. A middle aged man sat in his study, who nodded in greeting when he stepped into the room.
"Good evening Edmund." The man greeted.
"Mr. Winchester." The watcher replied with a nod. Winchester motioned toward the chair in front of him and Edmund sat down.
"It's time for your charge to." The older man started.
"I beg your pardon Sir," Edmund interrupted, with a voice full of respect toward his companion, "but the Slayer has fallen and the new one was probably called a few moments ago."
Winchester took the news like it was a small matter and nodded. "Wonderful news, we finally are able to locate the potential Slayers."
Edmund smiled, "That is indeed wonderful news, are seers before had some trouble not being able to reveal the Potentials, thus making us look for them by magic which has not been successful," then he frowned, "How?"
"We are able because of a man named Whistler or something like that. A rather unusual, dreadful name, don't you think." Edmund nodded so Winchester continued, "He brought us another seer who is able to locate a potential slayer, and it works?"
Edmund nodded, sharing his superior's opinion all the way. Winchester was very content and he leaned back on the chair.
"Now we have to discuss another matter. What demon killed your charge?" With that question, the head of the Council made himself more comfortable in the chair as he listened to Edmund's description of the events that took place a couple of minutes ago.
"So we have a new potential slayer killer right here in London." Edmund finished his tale. His superior was in deep thought for a moment before he spoke:
"The vampiress was fairly young, correct." At the watcher's nod, he continued. "So she still wouldn't be able to defeat a Slayer, are you sure that you didn't see Master Nest's childe, Darla?"
Edmund shook his head. "No, I have seen drawings of Darla and that vampire was completely different in appearance. She is smaller, her hair has a richer color, besides, she said that her name is Beth and she had the nerve to criticize my way of training my charge."
Winchester nodded. "Very well, I will ask our seers to look into the matter. But before that, I shall send a new Slayer and her watcher to you so you could complete her training and maybe she could take care of this vampire. Expect the new charge in four weeks. If this new vampire will prove that she can kill a slayer so easily as you describe then, our seers will look at her bloodline carefully and we will write in the Dairies' about it."
With that, Winchester stood up and headed toward the door. Edmund followed him and closed the door behind him. Then he sat down and started to drink his tea.
An hour later, there was knock on the door. Edmund stood up, picked up a cross that was on the table and opened his front door. The doorstep was empty so he stepped out and looked around. He saw nobody, but just when he was about to turn around, a hand shot at form the shadows, and grabbed his neck. Edmund thrust the cross toward his attacker's face, but the vampire just swatted the cross away very easily.
"Hello Watcher." The vampire said with a friendly voice and shifted to his human features, while never losing his grip on Edmund.
"Tonight you cost my mate her first childe." Angelus smirked at the frightened man. The scent of fear was very strong in the air. His smirk grew.
"I think, no I know that you want to meet my family don't you Watcher?" With that, Edmund's world went black.
Angelus looked at the watcher's prone form, while smiling; he had heard every work spoken inside. He and his family will certainly have a lot of fun.
With that thought on his mind, Angelus started to drag Edmund toward his mansion.
******
Meanwhile Beth was pouting.
//It's not fair, I created my first childe and she killed it, did she have any idea how difficult it is to find a suitable childe, no, she just poked her wooden stake into Andrew's heart. IT'S SO NOT FAIR!"// With that she walked home gloomily, while leaving Andrews ashes and the slayer's dead body in the graveyard.
******
Angelus sat in front of the fireplace. The soft glow of the light lightened his features while he read. The Watcher was safely tucked in Drusilla's padded room, which was sound proof so nobody will here his calls for help.
Neither Beth nor Dru had returned yet, so he decided to read. He was so distracted by the book, that he didn't hear Beth enter the room.
She stood by the entrance admiring her Sire. Then, a mischievous look entered her eyes as she crept silently behind his chair and covered his eyes with her hands.
"Guess who?" She giggled.
Angelus scowled and grabbed her hands, yanking her on his lap, the book forgotten. "You are a little trouble maker aren't you?!" He growled and roughly kissed her. She returned the kiss with equal brutality and searing passion. They both started to growl in contentment when their tongues duelled for dominance. Angelus stood up holding Beth in his arms without breaking a sweat and proceeded to walk in the direction of the bedroom.
******
Edmund was concerned, sure watchers were full of knowledge, but vampires usually ignored or killed them. They never bothered themselves with capturing one before. Oh yes, he knew everything about the vampire that had captured him, Angelus the Scourge of Europe, grandchilde of Master Nest himself. But who was his mate?
Then suddenly the Watcher brightened, it was probable his sire, Darla.
******
When Drusilla neared her home, she heard the moon whispering and she titled her head to listen to the moon's songs. She then started dancing to music that only she could hear.
She was smiling happily, because the moon whispered about many wonderful things. "We must hurry." She whispered to her doll, "Or we will miss the party Miss Edith." Then she giggled.
"Mommy and Daddy have a present for us."
******
Three Weeks Later
Edmunds sat in the corner of the room, staring into space. His clothes were in rags, torn and dirtied with dried blood. He was very thin, because they didn't give him any food since his capture. These vampires used every way of torture in the book and then invented some more. So no wonder he was in very bad condition.
Although considering that they had never harmed him in a life threatening way, so they need him alive for something. He quietly took joy in that thought, because he wouldn't tell them anything and that will be his revenge, those unholy creatures thought that they could best a Watcher; well soon they will learn that they can't break him.
Angelus and that blond vampiress who killed his Slayer probably grew bored of him, because he hadn't seen them for day. Only Drusilla came to see him. He always dreaded her visits.
The door of his prison opened and he watched them in silent terror. Drusilla glided in the room smiling dreamily. But this time she wasn't alone. Beth was right behind her and she was closing the door.
"Hello Edmund, my dear." Beth said in very sweet voice.
Edmund shivered at the tone. Beth and Angelus weren't with him for more than a couple of days at a time, but he remembered that when they were nice to him, torture always followed. The poor man was simply terrified. Beth smirked, she could smell his terror. //What a sweet smell that is and lets not forget about what's coming, oh yes we'll have fun tonight.// With that thought in her mind, she shook Edmund who tried to shrink himself. Drusilla watched the scene, she was so excited, and she could not wait for her mommy and daddy to start playing with naughty Ed.
"You see." Beth addressed Edmund." We grow tired of you, and because your blood is very bitter, we won't feed on you, and let's no forget your reward for helping us."
Now Edmund was confused; helped them, with what, how. but before he could think of more questions, he saw a fist coming his way and every thing went dark...
"We won't kill you." Beth continued, and then she grinned, "Yet."
******
When Edmund came to his senses he felt dizzy. But he also felt that somebody had dragged him. He turned his head to survey his surroundings.
He had been dragged across the graveyard by a dark male and a blond female in very rich clothes. He assumed them to be vampires. They were turned away, so he couldn't see their faces, but he assumed that they were Beth and Drusilla. Suddenly he was wrenched away from his captors and the last thing he heard before blacking out, were sounds of a fight.
"Mr. Croft, are you all right?" He heard a female voice ask him.
Edmund opened his eyes, blinking, until he saw two faces clearly before him. One was a young man, in his late twenties, with kind blue eyes and brown hair. The other was a girl who was 15, with long blond hair and green eyes. Edmund turned toward the man.
"You are a watcher." At the man's nod, he scowled.
"It took you a long time to get here."
"Well excuse me if my watcher took his time to train me." The new slayer jumped into the conversation.
"Is that the way that a Slayer should speak to her watcher?" Edmund sneered at her. He turned to his fellow watcher.
"What were you teaching her?'' he asked the man.
Watcher glared at his older co-worker. "I trained her to fight and live not fight and die. Her name is Colleen Wilhelm and I am Colin Giles. She just saved you, with those two vampires that captured you, so show some bloody respect. Before you say I know that you are her new watcher and I will have to return and leave may charge to you. I'm warning you, that if you mistreat her."
"You will do what, when the superiors find out what just said, you will be expelled for the noble work."
Colin nodded and turned to Colleen and smiled warmly at her, she smiled back and nodded. He then walked out the door, but just before he stepped out he said:
"Write the Council whatever you want, but mark my words, our job is to help and guide the slayer not own them. And some day, you will get a good bloody kick of that simple truth the hard way." With that he left.
Edmund turned to his new Slayer and started with cold voice: "His teachings were wrong, you will do exactly what I tell you when I tell you."
"So that means I will be dead within two nights like all your charges. I warn you I will do my duty my way." With that Colleen turned and left, leaving Edmund to stare dumbly at her.
******
Meanwhile, in a rich house across town, three vampires discussed their plans.
"Unfortunately our plans about Edmund will have to wait," said Angelus, "We have to travel to France.
"French people are very tasty." Drusilla sang.
Beth knitted her eyebrows. "Why the sudden change of plans, my love?"
Angelus smirked, "I finally tracked down my last relative, and I must have him."
Beth smiled, "Then what are we waiting for. It's been awhile since I was in Paris and we could go to Italy too, or me and Drusilla could go while you have fun with that relative of yours."
******
Somewhere else in the centre of Watchers' Council, protected by many spells, was a large room with a symbol with crystals outlining it. Between those crystals were five women that lay with their eyes close. Suddenly all eyes snapped open, their orbs white. They started talking of things to come, and the watchers dutifully took notes until the seers closed their eyes, then they left them all alone.
The youngest of the seers smiled and opened her eyes once again, but her eyes were not white like before but silver like the stars, she stared at the ceiling and whispered:
"It has begun."
By Red Crystal
DISCLAIMER: All BtVS characters are property of Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. All I own is the plot and some characters that you don't know from the show.
AN: SPECIAL THANKS TO CINDY FOR BETA THIS STORY OK this story is AU. I am big B/A fan and this is a B/A story so if you don't like these star-crossed lovers you better read something else, thank you very much. (Oh, and there is no happiness clause) Now let's start the story. Sorry guy's for long wait ******
Chapter 4
On the way to England, 1765
The ship was sailing towards England on a quiet December night. The sky was clear, the moon and stars shined softly on the dark sky above. A young beautiful young Lady stood bay the ship's fence. She was dress in light blue classy dress and a black fur coat on her shoulders. Her golden hair was swept up in artistic hairstyle. Suddenly from the shadowy corner, came a tall, dark hared man and regarded the Lady with a smile on his face.
"Hello Lover." He greeted her, as she turned around and smiled at him. He held up his hand, which had a red rose and ran the rose down her forehead, across her lips and then down her throat. The gentle caress of the rose on her skin was a wonderful and sensational feeling.
"The dawn will come soon so let's go inside." Beth said in a soft voice and held her hand to him. He smiled and took her hand in his and they left for their rooms. Before their room stood Drusilla in her white dress, in which she looked so incredibly innocent that it attracted many to their death. Angelus and Beth were proud in Drusilla's way of the hunt, she often played with her victims, invited them to tea and then locked them up in padded room, with no windows and listened to their screams of despair before she finally killed them.
"Mummy and Daddy said that we will be home soon." She sang in her sweet voice.
"Yes, Dru, soon we will be in dear old London." Beth said and smiled at her.
//Dru is such a child, yet her visions are very useful and we are a family, a real family I am so glad that I met Angelus. We had a good time together and by the look on his face I'll say there is some good times ahead of us right now, so I better get Drusilla into her room.//
"Sweetheart," Beth interrupted Drusilla's humming, "can you go to your room, I think Miss Edith would like a cup of tea."
Drusilla happily nodded, "Yes, she was good girl tonight, she should have some tea, and she liked tea." With that, Drusilla glided to her room and silently closed the door while Beth and Angelus entered their room.
After the door was closed, Beth turned to Angelus. "Do you think that Master Nest and Darla are still here, we never did pay attention to the vampire grapevine about them for years now?"
"I wouldn't know, I never pay much attention on the news concerning them and even if they are still there I won't stand before the old bat face." Angelus replayed.
"Well love, if I remember correctly you were standing before him only for a minute, but you spent quite awhile on the floor or flying through the air." She giggled. Angelus frowned, and then he grabbed her with a blur of motion, turned them around and slammed Beth's back on the door.
"You know love, you too smart for your own good!" He said while grinning. Beth grinned back and locked her hands behind his neck. They were staring into each other's eyes; their bodies pressed together in a way that they looked like one entity.
"One of us has to be." She teased him. He growled playfully and claimed her mouth with his. They had all the time in the world or until the ship docked.
******
Drusilla sat in her room and on the table before her was a teapot filled with hot tea and two cups, and across from her sat a dark-haired doll. They were having a tea party and talking about the secrets that the moon and stars were whispering about her Mummy and Daddy and the wonderful things that they would do once they hit London. The house that Angelus sent Frank to buy was completely furnished and ready for them once they got there, there were hundreds of humans waiting to be their meal for them. London will never be the same again once they landed. They will never know what hit them.
"Ah, the sweet smell of London." Angelus stated when they exited the ship, around them were the drunken sailors with their harlots hanging on their arms and moving in the dark.
"And what exactly would that sweet smell be?" Beth asked wrinkling her nose. "Because all I can smell is human waste, drink and other filth I don't want to think about."
Angelus snickered and Beth glared at him.
"So I don't like filthy alleys, they are too much like sewers and I hate sewers."
From behind them, emerged Drusilla holding Miss Edith in her hands. "Are mummy and daddy ready to go? Miss Edith and I would like to see our new happy home." Drusilla asked in childish voice.
The next night they were standing in front of their new house. It was a lovely old house with big garden. So then, the vampires entered their new home. Soon they were accepted in a high social order and were invited to many parties; the humans never knew that they were inviting death into their homes. They fed on servants and other lower classes, but rarely on noblemen and women. A week later, when Beth opened her eyes the first thing she saw was the face of her beloved mate smiling down at her. That was nothing new, he often watched her sleep and wake up every day and night, they were together always but neither he nor she grew tired of it. When he saw her eyes open, he trailed his fingers across her full lips and smiled when he heard her soft purrs. Soon he began to purr too. The tender moment was disturbed by Drusilla, who came dancing into the room and jumped on the bed. She was smiling and singing:
"They are gone, deep, deep underground, the old one will never be freed, he is trapped below, he can't move, the stars and moon are saying, he can't hurt us anymore."
Beth and Angelus just shared a look. They knew that Drusilla just had a vision. In addition, they figured out that it concerned Master Nest. However, they didn't try to force Drusilla to tell them what exactly happened to him, she would tell or sing about it when she was ready. Even though Master Nest didn't come as a threat to them, they wanted to know where he was, and apparently he was trapped underground somewhere. They discerned that from the vision. Yet, that could wait because they were in a hurry. They had to get ready for a party; they were invited by Lady Lockwood.
"Come child. Let's leave Beth to herself and get ready for the party." Angelus ordered.
"Oh, I love parties Daddy, I have to get ready. Miss Edith will be so excited because when I come back I will tell her about the party, she can't go because then people are mean to her, but we will punish them when time will come wont we Daddy, Mummy." Drusilla said jumping up and down in her excitement. Angelus and Beth chuckled.
"You certainly do like parties and yes you will punish all mean people, we have a room ready for them already."
Drusilla's eyes got big. "Really, daddy, I want to see the room, please daddy!'' she squealed.
Angelus nodded and held up a hand Drusilla grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the bedroom. Beth got up and closed the door, smiling to herself in amusement at Drusilla's behavior. Then she turned around and walked up to her wardrobe to pick a gown for this night's ball. Opening the wardrobe's doors, she came face to face with her many clothes. They were all known colors, textures, and patterns. She took out a corset and other underclothes first. Then she looked for suitable overdresses. After awhile she finally settled for an emerald green velvet dress that went with her eyes, then she took out a matching pair of shoes. She brushed her hair into a modern hairstyle with ribbons and small golden hairpins that held her long hair in place. Then she went to her jewelry box and picked out a golden necklace with emeralds and rubies and matching earrings. With some makeup, she was finally ready.
Angelus was waiting in the study, reading a book, to pass time. When Beth entered, he looked up and was awed of her appearance. Beth stopped in her tracks, and looked at him; he was incredibly handsome in his attire. He wore shiny black boots, and then she moved her gaze upward to the colored cloth that molded to his muscular legs, his dark red coat, black waistcoat with little silvery streaks, the white linen at his neck, and finally his devastatingly beautiful face. In moments like this Beth often remembered just why he was called Angelus, a demon with an angelic face, he was truly a fallen angel. Soon Drusilla joined them and they climbed into the carriage and drove off to the manor of Earl and Lady Lockwood. When they arrived the party had already started, they left their coats in the lobby, under the watchful eye of the receptionist and went to the ballroom where people were already dancing. A young man quickly asked Drusilla to dance; she giggled and accepted the invitation. Angelus went to mingle amidst the other guests looking for his meal, while Beth went to the gardens.
The gardens were beautiful, full of exotic flowers, bushes, and trees. There was a fountain in the middle of the park. There were gold fish swimming in the silvery liquid. She spotted a young servant feeding the fish with bits of bread. She smiled and went to him. When he heard her approach he looked up. She smiled at him sweetly. The servant blushed.
"Tell me young man, what a sturdy looking man doing here in the middle of the night?" She ask him with a smile. The boy's cheeks grew even redder, if that was possible.
//My what a sweet innocent little child.//
She smiled to her self. Then she sat next to the boy. They talked for a while, he told her that his name was Andrew, that he was an orphan and came to serve yesterday and that this was his first job.
// I think I just found myself my first Child. I can't bring him home like Angelus brought me, because I am his mate and not just a childe, I will leave him here by the fountain, somebody will find his body and I will wait on may childe's grave for him to raise.//
"Tell me young Andrew," she asked deciding that this young man will be her childe, "Don't you have any ambitions or wishes to became somebody important?"
Andrew thought for a minute. "I always wanted to become a traveler you know, see the world, but as I said before." He trailed off.
Beth smiled and waved her hand. "Say no more, I understand, but if I told you that there was a way for you to become everything that you have ever dreamed of, would you take it without question?"
His eyes brightened. "You would show me the world, that would be wonderful, what do you want me to do? Tell me, I will do anything? That is all I have ever wanted!" He replied excitedly.
"You just have to close your eyes and I'll do the rest." Beth smiled.
Andrew happily nodded and closed his eyes. Only to scream a second later in pain as sharp teeth bit him in the neck. He was growing weak. When Beth withdrew her fangs he just blinked at her, too weak to do anything else. She ripped open her wrist and put the now bleeding wound to his lips.
"Drink Andrew and fulfill yours dreams, come on darling." She said in soft and kind voce. And Andrew drank and fell on the grass not breathing, only to be reborn as a creature of the night. Beth watched the body of her first childe in fascination, when she was interrupted by footsteps of two people.
//Here there's come unsuspected finders I think I will stay around for entertainment. // So she hid herself in the bush. Soon she saw two people approaching, one was a man in his fifties and the other was Lady's Lockwood fifteen years old doughtier Melina. Beth felt a feeling wash over her, one similar to the feeling she had felt in Germany.
~Flashback~
Beth found herself searching for her mate, they were together for ten years now, and they weren't usually separated, she had a funny feeling that somebody was following them and she didn't like it. It made her feel like she would be the prey and not the hunter. When she came up to a small narrow ally she heard sounds of fighting. She went to look around the corner and saw Angelus fighting a young human girl, what worried Beth the most was the stake in the girl's hands. But before she interfered Angelus slammed the girl in the wall, so she slid to her knees and then kicked her in the head sending her on her back. Then he removed the stake away from her, bent down and snapped the girl's neck.
"Who was she Angelus? How can a human girl be so strong?" Beth asked her mate as she emerged from the shadows.
"She was a Slayer my love. They are girls chosen to fight us and when one is killed another is called." He answered, while turning at her.
~End flashback~
So, because of that incident she knew that Melina was the Slayer, but who was the old man?
"You see." The man said with a heavy British accent. "Your holy duty was to stop this unholy creature from making this kill, and God will punish you because you didn't believe in it. Now I know that you were not raised by the Watchers' Council, but let me make something clear to you. You are not a person anymore you are the Chosen one and you will be until you die. You will leave your family and come me, do not tell your family of anything because you will just endanger them. From now on you belong to the Watchers' Council and you will do your sacred duty. Now check the boy's mouth, if there is some blood in it."
Melina obediently opened the young boy's mouth and looked inside. "There is blood in there Sir." She said humbly, her eyes downcast.
The man nodded. "Tomorrow night you will have to wait for him to rise in the graveyard."
Melina nodded, and then turned around to gather some things before leaving to live with her watcher. Beth watched the scene from the bushes. //Now this is becoming more interesting, I wonder if Angelus will have time to go with me to the cemetery tomorrow night.// With that she left in search for her mate. The next night in cemetery, by Andrew's grave was a Slayer that stood waiting for him to rise. By her, stood a watcher. When the fresh soil stirred she went to stake him, but her watcher wanted to see her fight. So she waited for Andrew to rise, and when he came out, they fought and the watcher watched. They didn't know that behind the trees stood two vampires watching the fight with interest. The Slayer staked the vampire very fast, and then turned to her watcher with a smile on her face, waiting for praise. It never came all she got was some harsh words that she shouldn't show any emotion, and that emotions are not proper for the Slayer that a Slayer was just a weapon.
"But I think she fought well old man, you shouldn't criticize her for something you don't do." A female voice said behind them. They turned around and came face to face with a female vampire wearing a long red gown, her golden hair tied up neatly in a ponytail.
"You are a vampire." The watcher spat.
Beth smiled. "Your powers of observation is awe inspiring. My name is Beth and this,'' she motioned to the shadows, "is Angelus, my sire and mate. And you I presume are a Slayer and you stuffy old man are her watcher." Melina didn't look where Beth pointed she just stood there waiting for watcher's orders. The watcher however looked around, but seeing nothing he thought that the vampiress was alone so he ordered his Slayer to attack. Melina jumped into action, but Beth was able to block the slayer's every move. The Slayer was had only been called for a few days now, but it didn't matter because Slayers had a certain instinct when it came to slaying, but is seems that Beth possessed that instinct to. So, she had the Slayer pinned down in a matter of minutes. The watcher, seeing that his charge was dead, just turned around and left. Not knowing that he was being followed by Angelus.
******
Chapter 5
The watcher walked to his house in a slow, calm manner, like he didn't just lose his charge. Like a young girl didn't die. It didn't matter to him, because he knew that somewhere was Slayer that has just been called and the fight will go on. But what he didn't know was that a shadow was following him since he left his charge to die.
When he approached his house, he saw a carriage in front of his home. The watcher sped up his pace and entered his house. A middle aged man sat in his study, who nodded in greeting when he stepped into the room.
"Good evening Edmund." The man greeted.
"Mr. Winchester." The watcher replied with a nod. Winchester motioned toward the chair in front of him and Edmund sat down.
"It's time for your charge to." The older man started.
"I beg your pardon Sir," Edmund interrupted, with a voice full of respect toward his companion, "but the Slayer has fallen and the new one was probably called a few moments ago."
Winchester took the news like it was a small matter and nodded. "Wonderful news, we finally are able to locate the potential Slayers."
Edmund smiled, "That is indeed wonderful news, are seers before had some trouble not being able to reveal the Potentials, thus making us look for them by magic which has not been successful," then he frowned, "How?"
"We are able because of a man named Whistler or something like that. A rather unusual, dreadful name, don't you think." Edmund nodded so Winchester continued, "He brought us another seer who is able to locate a potential slayer, and it works?"
Edmund nodded, sharing his superior's opinion all the way. Winchester was very content and he leaned back on the chair.
"Now we have to discuss another matter. What demon killed your charge?" With that question, the head of the Council made himself more comfortable in the chair as he listened to Edmund's description of the events that took place a couple of minutes ago.
"So we have a new potential slayer killer right here in London." Edmund finished his tale. His superior was in deep thought for a moment before he spoke:
"The vampiress was fairly young, correct." At the watcher's nod, he continued. "So she still wouldn't be able to defeat a Slayer, are you sure that you didn't see Master Nest's childe, Darla?"
Edmund shook his head. "No, I have seen drawings of Darla and that vampire was completely different in appearance. She is smaller, her hair has a richer color, besides, she said that her name is Beth and she had the nerve to criticize my way of training my charge."
Winchester nodded. "Very well, I will ask our seers to look into the matter. But before that, I shall send a new Slayer and her watcher to you so you could complete her training and maybe she could take care of this vampire. Expect the new charge in four weeks. If this new vampire will prove that she can kill a slayer so easily as you describe then, our seers will look at her bloodline carefully and we will write in the Dairies' about it."
With that, Winchester stood up and headed toward the door. Edmund followed him and closed the door behind him. Then he sat down and started to drink his tea.
An hour later, there was knock on the door. Edmund stood up, picked up a cross that was on the table and opened his front door. The doorstep was empty so he stepped out and looked around. He saw nobody, but just when he was about to turn around, a hand shot at form the shadows, and grabbed his neck. Edmund thrust the cross toward his attacker's face, but the vampire just swatted the cross away very easily.
"Hello Watcher." The vampire said with a friendly voice and shifted to his human features, while never losing his grip on Edmund.
"Tonight you cost my mate her first childe." Angelus smirked at the frightened man. The scent of fear was very strong in the air. His smirk grew.
"I think, no I know that you want to meet my family don't you Watcher?" With that, Edmund's world went black.
Angelus looked at the watcher's prone form, while smiling; he had heard every work spoken inside. He and his family will certainly have a lot of fun.
With that thought on his mind, Angelus started to drag Edmund toward his mansion.
******
Meanwhile Beth was pouting.
//It's not fair, I created my first childe and she killed it, did she have any idea how difficult it is to find a suitable childe, no, she just poked her wooden stake into Andrew's heart. IT'S SO NOT FAIR!"// With that she walked home gloomily, while leaving Andrews ashes and the slayer's dead body in the graveyard.
******
Angelus sat in front of the fireplace. The soft glow of the light lightened his features while he read. The Watcher was safely tucked in Drusilla's padded room, which was sound proof so nobody will here his calls for help.
Neither Beth nor Dru had returned yet, so he decided to read. He was so distracted by the book, that he didn't hear Beth enter the room.
She stood by the entrance admiring her Sire. Then, a mischievous look entered her eyes as she crept silently behind his chair and covered his eyes with her hands.
"Guess who?" She giggled.
Angelus scowled and grabbed her hands, yanking her on his lap, the book forgotten. "You are a little trouble maker aren't you?!" He growled and roughly kissed her. She returned the kiss with equal brutality and searing passion. They both started to growl in contentment when their tongues duelled for dominance. Angelus stood up holding Beth in his arms without breaking a sweat and proceeded to walk in the direction of the bedroom.
******
Edmund was concerned, sure watchers were full of knowledge, but vampires usually ignored or killed them. They never bothered themselves with capturing one before. Oh yes, he knew everything about the vampire that had captured him, Angelus the Scourge of Europe, grandchilde of Master Nest himself. But who was his mate?
Then suddenly the Watcher brightened, it was probable his sire, Darla.
******
When Drusilla neared her home, she heard the moon whispering and she titled her head to listen to the moon's songs. She then started dancing to music that only she could hear.
She was smiling happily, because the moon whispered about many wonderful things. "We must hurry." She whispered to her doll, "Or we will miss the party Miss Edith." Then she giggled.
"Mommy and Daddy have a present for us."
******
Three Weeks Later
Edmunds sat in the corner of the room, staring into space. His clothes were in rags, torn and dirtied with dried blood. He was very thin, because they didn't give him any food since his capture. These vampires used every way of torture in the book and then invented some more. So no wonder he was in very bad condition.
Although considering that they had never harmed him in a life threatening way, so they need him alive for something. He quietly took joy in that thought, because he wouldn't tell them anything and that will be his revenge, those unholy creatures thought that they could best a Watcher; well soon they will learn that they can't break him.
Angelus and that blond vampiress who killed his Slayer probably grew bored of him, because he hadn't seen them for day. Only Drusilla came to see him. He always dreaded her visits.
The door of his prison opened and he watched them in silent terror. Drusilla glided in the room smiling dreamily. But this time she wasn't alone. Beth was right behind her and she was closing the door.
"Hello Edmund, my dear." Beth said in very sweet voice.
Edmund shivered at the tone. Beth and Angelus weren't with him for more than a couple of days at a time, but he remembered that when they were nice to him, torture always followed. The poor man was simply terrified. Beth smirked, she could smell his terror. //What a sweet smell that is and lets not forget about what's coming, oh yes we'll have fun tonight.// With that thought in her mind, she shook Edmund who tried to shrink himself. Drusilla watched the scene, she was so excited, and she could not wait for her mommy and daddy to start playing with naughty Ed.
"You see." Beth addressed Edmund." We grow tired of you, and because your blood is very bitter, we won't feed on you, and let's no forget your reward for helping us."
Now Edmund was confused; helped them, with what, how. but before he could think of more questions, he saw a fist coming his way and every thing went dark...
"We won't kill you." Beth continued, and then she grinned, "Yet."
******
When Edmund came to his senses he felt dizzy. But he also felt that somebody had dragged him. He turned his head to survey his surroundings.
He had been dragged across the graveyard by a dark male and a blond female in very rich clothes. He assumed them to be vampires. They were turned away, so he couldn't see their faces, but he assumed that they were Beth and Drusilla. Suddenly he was wrenched away from his captors and the last thing he heard before blacking out, were sounds of a fight.
"Mr. Croft, are you all right?" He heard a female voice ask him.
Edmund opened his eyes, blinking, until he saw two faces clearly before him. One was a young man, in his late twenties, with kind blue eyes and brown hair. The other was a girl who was 15, with long blond hair and green eyes. Edmund turned toward the man.
"You are a watcher." At the man's nod, he scowled.
"It took you a long time to get here."
"Well excuse me if my watcher took his time to train me." The new slayer jumped into the conversation.
"Is that the way that a Slayer should speak to her watcher?" Edmund sneered at her. He turned to his fellow watcher.
"What were you teaching her?'' he asked the man.
Watcher glared at his older co-worker. "I trained her to fight and live not fight and die. Her name is Colleen Wilhelm and I am Colin Giles. She just saved you, with those two vampires that captured you, so show some bloody respect. Before you say I know that you are her new watcher and I will have to return and leave may charge to you. I'm warning you, that if you mistreat her."
"You will do what, when the superiors find out what just said, you will be expelled for the noble work."
Colin nodded and turned to Colleen and smiled warmly at her, she smiled back and nodded. He then walked out the door, but just before he stepped out he said:
"Write the Council whatever you want, but mark my words, our job is to help and guide the slayer not own them. And some day, you will get a good bloody kick of that simple truth the hard way." With that he left.
Edmund turned to his new Slayer and started with cold voice: "His teachings were wrong, you will do exactly what I tell you when I tell you."
"So that means I will be dead within two nights like all your charges. I warn you I will do my duty my way." With that Colleen turned and left, leaving Edmund to stare dumbly at her.
******
Meanwhile, in a rich house across town, three vampires discussed their plans.
"Unfortunately our plans about Edmund will have to wait," said Angelus, "We have to travel to France.
"French people are very tasty." Drusilla sang.
Beth knitted her eyebrows. "Why the sudden change of plans, my love?"
Angelus smirked, "I finally tracked down my last relative, and I must have him."
Beth smiled, "Then what are we waiting for. It's been awhile since I was in Paris and we could go to Italy too, or me and Drusilla could go while you have fun with that relative of yours."
******
Somewhere else in the centre of Watchers' Council, protected by many spells, was a large room with a symbol with crystals outlining it. Between those crystals were five women that lay with their eyes close. Suddenly all eyes snapped open, their orbs white. They started talking of things to come, and the watchers dutifully took notes until the seers closed their eyes, then they left them all alone.
The youngest of the seers smiled and opened her eyes once again, but her eyes were not white like before but silver like the stars, she stared at the ceiling and whispered:
"It has begun."