Chapter 4 – Revelations

Disclaimer: See chapter 1.

"Your roommate?"

"Tessa went missing about three weeks before I died. When she came back, I invited her in. This is what she did to me." Anna pulled on the collar of her jumper to reveal two deep holes in the side of her neck.

"Vampire." Rachel said.

"Yes. My roommate and best friend had come back as a blood-sucking creature of the night."

"You couldn't have known."

"Yes I could. I was a Slayer just like you. But I was newly activated and I couldn't really sense vampires unless I tried. I didn't expect Tessa to kill me. I should have realized." Anna hung her head in shame.

Rachel wanted to be able to comfort Anna at that moment but obviously couldn't because ghosts have no physical form.

"Why now?" She asked Anna.

"I had to wait for you to come into your powers. The only way I can cross over is with the 'death' of my murderess. That's where you come in. You have to kill Tessa."

"But I've never killed a vampire before and I don't even know where she is."

"But I do. We should wait until tomorrow. That way, if you need to run away, just head straight into the daylight." With that, Anna disappeared and Rachel headed back to the school.

Rachel was woken the next morning by a rather insistent knock on her door. When she opened her eyes to look at the clock, it said 9:45. 'I must've slept very deeply not to be woken by Angelina.'

She got out of bed and opened the door to find a younger student holding out a rather large parcel for her. Wordlessly and confused, she took it and shut the door.

The package contained a note from her mother, which she read first.

Rachel,

If you are reading this, then I have failed to protect you from your responsibilities. I am sorry that you should have to bear this burden but the things in this box should make it easier. I know I should have told you earlier but I only wanted to protect you.

I suspect Rupert Giles has already been to see you. He is one of the most respected watchers of our time. I am sure that he has already told you that you do not have to bear this burden alone. He is there to help you, as am I.

Regarding the items in the box, hide them from prying eyes, as they are a slayer's best weapons against the forces of darkness. I can only hope that they don't reach you too late.

Good luck.

Rachel put the letter to one side and opened the package. Inside was an assortment of weapons for a vampire slayer, including stakes, holy water, a crucifix and a sword.

"You ready?" A familiar voice said.

Looking up, Rachel saw Anna standing on the other side of the room.

"First I need to get dressed."

Ten minutes later, Rachel was ready but just as she headed to the door, Anna asked her something.

"Aren't you going to take that?"

She spun around and looked at the item in question.

"I can't walk around town with a sword, you know."

"I know. But that's no ordinary sword. It retracts into the handle and you wear it like a bracelet."

Rachel picked up the sword and as she did, it vanished into the handle. She put it on.

"How do I get it back?"

"It senses when you have need of it. It's enchanted to know that."

"Okay. So, let's go."

They reached the place Anna had said Tessa was hiding. It was a rather rundown house on the edge of town. Its previous owner had died some years before in mysterious circumstances, from loss of blood apparently.

Anna glided up the steps with Rachel following her. Rachel opened the door and walked inside. The air inside smelt sort of musty and decaying. The little light coming in from the boarded up windows revealed a home that could have been quite nice to live in if it was cleaned up a bit. Anna walked through the house to a set of stairs leading down. Suddenly a presence appeared from nowhere and crashed into the unsuspecting slayer. She vaulted back onto her feet. The sword reappeared and Rachel brought it up in front of her. A vampire faced her but it wasn't Tessa.

He charged at her but Rachel swung her sword and decapitated him. He disintegrated into dust before her eyes. The sword vanished back into the handle. Rachel cautiously went down the stairs. Several bare bulbs lit the cellar and sitting on a chair in the corner was…