Chapter 10

In the caves, Spike was pacing.

"What is wrong, my love?" Drusilla asked, as she sat cross-legged on the pelt of a wolf which had strayed into the caves, which had been placed on the floor, playing with her dolls. "Miss Mabel says that you are unhappy, but she does not know why."

"I'm feelin' all cooped up love." Spike sighed, as he crouched down on a low rock. "I shouldn't have told 'em about The Slayer. They're all terrified she's going to get 'em now. Bunch of sissies."

"She won't, you know." Drusilla replied, cocking her head to one side. "The Slayer's gone to school, and soon one of her playmates will come to visit us."

Spike looked towards the woman who was his sire and his lover, a questioning look upon his face. "How'd you know that, Dru?"

"The voices in the mountains told me."

"The voices in the mountains?"

Drusilla nodded. "They were naughty and so the mountains punished them and made the lake, but they're all still here and they know things." She turned her head to one side, with an expression on her face that suggested she was listening to something. "But you mustn't fight this Slayer, Spike. The stars tell me she won't die at the hand of a demon."

Spike looked disgruntled, but having nearly become dust in the past after not heeding Drusilla's warnings, he acquiesced, sighing as he spoke. "I suppose you know best love." Then his expression became thoughtful. "No reason we have to tell the others though?"

Drusilla giggled as she realised what Spike meant, and in the echoes that came back from the deeper caves, there seemed to be many more voices.

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Sarah settled in quickly at the Chalet School. She was friendly with Evadne Lannis, Margia Stevens, and all the other girls in Lower Fourth, with the exception of the other new girl, Cornelia Flower, but she preferred studying to joining in with their pranks, although, conscious of the Schoolgirls idea of honour from the books she read in order to escape for a while from the knowledge of her Calling, she never sneaked. This resulted in her being left alone for the most part, although as this was mainly her own choice, the other members of the form did not feel too guilty about it.

"After all…" Margia said to her cohorts one evening in the Common Room. "If she's happier being left alone then she might resent us if we try to make her join in with us." With which all her companions agreed.

Sarah was also the topic of discussion in the Staff Room.

"Cornelia Flower seems to be settling in well." Said May Carthew. "But I'm not so sure about Sarah Fredericks. She seems happy but I don't think she's really made any friends within her form."

Mollie Maynard fixed the History Mistress with a look. "Do you think that there may be something bothering her?" she asked, having noticed a similar thing herself.

"There may be." May replied, thoughtfully. "Although I'm certain it's nothing to do with schoolwork or the girls in her form. It's almost as if she's reluctant to form any close friendships."

"It may be that." Mollie assented. "Her aunt is an artist and has told us quite frankly that she has no idea when she may move on. She's also said that she will take Sarah with her when she does leave the area. As neither of them has any other relatives." She turned at the sound of the door opening and Matron Lloyd entered the room. "Ah, Matey, just the person." Mollie said, using the nickname the girls were had quickly adopted for the well-loved Matron, although they were unaware that the staff also used it. "How has Sarah Fredericks been sleeping. May is worried that there may be something bothering her."

Matron sat down next to the pair after pouring herself a cup of coffee from the pot that Nell Wilson, the Staff Baby, had made just five minutes previously, and thought for a moment before replying.

"As far as I'm aware, Sarah has been sleeping well, as far as I can tell from the nest she makes for herself, that is."

"Nest?" May asked, puzzled.

"She huddles down under the plumeau and wraps the pillow round her head, whilst facing the window." Matron explained. "I asked her why she sleeps like that and apparently she has very good hearing and sleeping as she does has become a habit from when she lived in an industrial area, to block out the noise. Apparently her aunt has tried to break the habit since they arrived here, but she was unsuccessful." Matron paused. "But I will keep an eye on her. If I see her looking at all overly-tired I shall certainly investigate."

"Thank you, Matey." Mollie replied. "And now that issue has been thoroughly discussed, what are people intending to wear for Marie's wedding?"