A/N This is a filler episode, before the main stuff hits the fan. Enjoy... Also thanks for the review Blackguard. I'm glad you're liking the story. And this is a warning, from here on out Xander's character is going to be a little dark. But read on anyway and you'll see why that is.

Chapter 3

Vengence Be Mine pt. 1

Watcher's Council

An Hour Later

"I...I got what you wanted me too." Andrew said with a grimace on his face as he put a brown-bag lunch; that was labeled with the British "Union Jack" flag, on Giles' desk. As he did so, he immediately wiped off his hand on his pants, with a grimace and stepped back.

"Yes...yes thank you I was famished." Giles replied with a smile as he took the bag and placed it on the floor. "Now what of Rona? Is she... let's just say not of the living anymore?"

"Well, I followed her like you said." Andrew replied as he put the camcorder on the desk and set it up. "So just see for yourself."

On an insert screen, Giles saw some grainy footage of X rescuing Rona from the demons he had sent.

"As you can see,whoever this guy is he has great reflex speed, strength, and a great bod to match." Andrew said causing Giles to look over at him strangely. "I...I mean his costume looks really cool." he covered lamely. As the last body fell, X seemed to pause and look back over his shoulder straight into the camera.

"Freeze it!" Giles ordered as Andrew quickly hit the pause button. Giles then just stared at the smiling face of the Joker.

"I'm afraid that because of the mask, it makes identifying this person impossible." Andrew said as he picked the camera back up. "But I did over hear him say that his name was X."

"This is bloody marvelous." Giles said with a chuckle. "This is working out better then I'd hoped."

"What are you talking about, Giles I thought you wanted her..."

"Yes, I do want her dead you git, now pay attention." the old Watcher said as he took the camera back. "Buffy's looking for a demon to fight, so I think I'll give her one."

"Then, I'll take this camera and hook it up to my printer." Andrew said as Giles handed him back his equipment. "When you give the word, I'll print out some lovely colored pictures of him and hand them out to the Slayers."

"Marvelous, just as long as you don't put up that blasted dry erase board like you did in Sunnydale." Giles said as Andrew headed towards the door, even as he reached down for the lunch bag. "Oh and Andrew..."

"Yes, sir?"

"Did you want a bite?" he asked as the bag started to leak out a red substance. One that made Andrew's stomach turn.

"N...no." he said immediately as he ran out of the room.

"Suit yourself." Giles replied with a shrug as he pulled the human heart out of the bag and bit into it. "More for me."

Soul Gallery

Sametime

Rona walked through the darkness and wore a blindfold as X led her by her fingertips, guiding her almost as if they were dancing. Taking a big whiff of the air, she suddenly grimaced at what she smelled.

"God...why the hell does it smell like we're in a sewer?" she asked, trying not to gag.

"Thank you for the compliment my dear but I'm not God. As I told you it's X." X replied as his fingers slipped free of her making her reach out for him, as he opened a door. "And to answer your question, we are in a sewer. It's me and my daughter's home. She call's it the Soul Gallery."

With that said he went behind her and removed the blindfold, revealing his house to her. It was a labyrinth of interconnecting underground tunnels and rooms. And as they moved into the main room she was blown away, quite like he was, when she saw all of the books and other objects in the room.

"Hmmm...nice place." Rona said as she walked all the way into the room and looked around.

"I'm sorry for having to blind fold you, but I had to be sure that I could trust you." X said as he looked around himself. "Now Rona we have much to do talk about. As I said before Mr. Giles isn't what he seems. Not only did he try to have you killed tonight but he's also responsible for the murder of your Watcher."

"How the hell do I know that you didn't kill my, Watcher?" Rona suddenly asked.

"Honestly do I look like I would be capable of such a thing?" he asked, as she looked at his cape and mask.

"Yeah...you're the picture of sane." she replied, as another nagging question came to her. "And how do you know my name?"

"Believe me, I know many things."

"Daddy, you've brought her." Drusilla said as she walked out of the kitchen area. "The Dark Slayer."

"Vampire." Rona whispered wide eyed as she took her stake out. Pushing X off of his feet, she ran towards Drusilla, ready to fight. Accepting the challenge Drusilla walked around her and goaded her on. With a growl Rona kicked at her, but Drusilla blocked her easily, as well as two follow-up swings. In retaliation she punched Rona hard on the point of her jaw sending her spinning to the floor.

Flipping back to her feet, Drusilla had to duck a kick from Rona before she grabbed her by the arms and swung her around and shoved her away. Showing her Slayer resilience, she came back at her again with a kick to the gut, making Drusilla double over for only an instant. Taking the advantage Rona lunged at her, but Drusilla grabbed her by the throat and forced her back against the counter, gripping hard and choking her.

"You see, Rona if I wanted you dead I would have killed you long ago." X replied as he put a hand on Drusilla's arm. "Drusilla please let her go."

With a shrug, she did as X ordered and let go of Rona, making her collaspe to the floor gasping for air. Extending a hand, which she took, X helped her to her feet.

"And yes, Drusilla is a vampire but a good one. I know it's hard to trust me but your life is in danger and I couldn't stand if anything happened to you." X said as he again grabbed Drusilla's arm.

"Why?" Rona asked as she gave him a look.

"All will be revealed at a later time. Now stay here for a second Rona. I must talk to Dru for a second." he said leading the vampiress away. Walking around the corner and making sure that Rona was out of hearing distance X took off his mask and glared at Dru.

"Are you insane? You almost killed her."

"Don't be cross with me daddy." Dru replied frightfully with a pout as she looked up at him. "I only did what she wanted."

"Alright." Xander said calming down.

After spending a week with Dru, he really had gotten to know her. And honestly he felt sorry for her, after she explained in grisly detail exactly what Angelus had did to her to make her crazy. And to think he now had Angel's soul inside of his body made him that much sicker.

"I'm sorry for yelling, okay." he said as he quickly pat her hand. "Now did you make the talisman that you told me about?"

"Mmm hmmm... I was a good gurl." she said as she handed him a golden talisman, that had two green gems in it.

"Thanks." Xander replied as he put his mask back on. "Watch after Rona while, I'm gone."

"We can play dollies." Dru said happily as she picked up Miss Edith. It had straggly hair and was missing an eye, but Drusilla loved it just the same.

"I'm sure she'd enjoy that." X said, smiling under his mask as he led her back out to the main room. "Rona, I'm going to go and take care of some business. Please stay down here with Dru."

"What are you about to do?"

"I'm going to get conclusive evidence that Rupert was the cause of your, Watcher's death." X said walking towards the door.

"I still don't get it. Why do you care so much?" she asked, stopping him in his tracks.

"Because, I made a blood oath with your Watcher many years ago that if anything happened to him, that I would protect 'his girls'. And at the moment that includes you." X replied as he pointed at her. "Now I must make my departure, before I'm late in meeting one of Mr. Giles' old friends named Robson. And please ladies don't kill each other while, I'm gone."

"Do you want to dance?" Drusilla asked Rona, as X walked out of the room.

"What you have a stereo down here?" Rona asked as she looked around the room for it.

"No silly." Dru said as she pulled her close. "Just close you eyes and you'll feel the music."

Rolling her eyes instead, Rona was pulled into a formal dance, leaving her to wonder if her life could get any worse.

The Subway

Forty Minutes Later

For a flashing instant, one could see X in silhouette only, cloak swirling around him like dark wings as he jumped from the bridge onto a train. As he ran deeper into the tunnel, his dark figure glided across the rooftops. Hearing a thumping sound over his cab, the conductor peered up and out of the train just as X swung down, smashing feet first into the cab.

"That was a right good meal, boss." Eddie, one of Robson's bodyguards commented as he let out a burp. Every friday night Robson would treat his two trusted guards to a meal at the finest restuarant, before taking the subway home.

"Yes, it was wasn't it?" Robson asked with a smile, as he reached into his tweed jacket for a napkin. Suddenly the brakes locked, making everyone in the cabin jerk and throwing the larger bodyguard into the Watcher.

"Get off of me!" Robson yelled, as a moment later, the lights were cut off and the entire train was plunged into complete darkness.

"What the fuck is going on?" Paul, the second guard, asked as he stood to his feet.

"Lock the car doors." Eddie ordered, as he tried to see in the darkness.

"Bloody hell." Robson said as he went into his pockets. "I have a lighter... somewhere..."

"I can't find the lock..." Paul said as he felt along side the wall. "-- wait. Hey wha--" before he could get the sentence fully out, there was a muffled shriek followed by a sharp snapping sound.

"What's happening --?" Eddie asked as there was another sound, like the leather slap of a boxer pounding a heavy bag, followed by the sound of the heavy bag collapsing onto the floor.

"I found it!" Robson announced, as he flicked on the lighter and, in the dim light of its flame, saw a smiling face. "Oh god." he said startled as X sat casually, arms folded, across from him. Looking around he saw that his bodyguards lay dead on the floor.

"Who are you? What do you want? Money? Is that it?" he asked as X just smiled. "You're... you're not going to harm me are you?" he asked as X nodded, even as Robson's eyes went wide. "You're making a mistake. I'm nobody..." as he said that, out of the corner of his eye, on the floor, he saw the bodyguard's gun.

Killing the lighter, he dove for it and in the darkness, a struggle was heard. A struggle that ended quickly. When the lighter flicked back on, X was holding it and the gun.

"Oh god, what do you want?" Robson asked as he scooted back on the floor.

"I've come to offer you a choice demon." X replied, as he spoke to him for the first time.

"What -- What did you call me?"

"I called you a demon." X said craning his head and staring at him. "Isn't that your proper title?" he asked as the Watcher's heart began to pound harder.

"How...how did you know?" he asked nervously.

"Because, I've been watching you for quite sometime and I must say, you really shouldn't be so predictable. Is it really neccessary to come out every friday at exactly the same time and go to the same restuarant, the get on a train?"

"They...they serve good food."

"I'm sure it does, but I wouldn't know of such a thing because I'm dead."

"Wha...what?"

"Oh come now Mr. Robson. Don't you recognize a fellow Watcher when you see one?" X asked as he took something out from under his cloak. Giving X a look, it only took Robson a second to realize who he was talking to.

"Oh God!" he yelled as a tear rolled down his eye. "You're supposed to be dead."

"As I said before, I am." X replied, grinning under his mask. "And it's so very strange to hear you yell out for God. Now please hold out your hand."

Trembling, Robson did as he was told and stuck out his hand. X let the light die for a moment and when he flicked it back on, Robson was holding a long, metal syringe filled with a murky liquid.

"Oh no, no! Please I was just doing what I was told!" Robson yelled as he recognized what it was.

"Of course you were. And since you were the one to give Giles that venom, I'm going to let you make a choice. Either you stick that syringe into your neck or --" he stopped talking as he pressed the gun barrel to Robson's forehead. "I can kill you right now." he said as the Watcher began to blubber.

"Crying doesn't help, demon. I remember that, that was the last thing I did before I died and it didn't help me at all."

"Please, don't make me do this..."

"It's a difficult choice, isn't it? Certain death versus something that might be... worse. But you never know. There is still a chance. You could survive. Look at me. Now, time's up, demon. Choose."

With anger galvanizing his fear, he steadily lifted the needle towards his neck.

"I'll see you in hell." Robson said calmly as he jammed the needle in and sunk the plunger.

"Yes. I'm quite sure you will." X said with a sigh. Taking out the talisman Dru made for him, he placed it on Robson's head. After a few seconds a soft golden glow came out of it and surrounded Robson's head. As it died out, he heard a noise behind him and quickly ran out of the back of the now moving train.

After hearing screams coming from the back of the train, it's workers with flashlights hurried through the cars.

"This door's locked!" one of them yelled as he slammed a shoulder against it making it give in. "Holy Christ!" he said in shock, as the flashlights sweeped over the dead bodyguards. Hearing a strange gurgling rasp he turned and found Robson in his light.

"What happened here?" the second one asked as he saw the Watcher foaming at the mouth while a thick mucus bubbled from his nose. As he reached down to examine him, Robson's breath came out in tiny rasps.

"Good lord! I need a medic here." the first train man said as Robson became more animate, trying to tell the man something.

"Xan...Xan..."

"Hush he's trying to say something." the second one said as he leaned down to hear what he had to say. Suddenly, Robson's body convulsed and blood poured out his ears. As his body slumped over, it started to rapidly decompose.

"I think he needs a priest."

With a tear in her eye, Rona fell to her knees as the last of the talisman's power faded. She didn't see her Watcher being killed in the memory crystal's power, but she did see and hear Giles and Robson talking about what the drug did and where it came from. So what X told her, that happened to her Watcher had to be true.

"So you saw that I was telling you the truth?" X asked as he helped Rona stand to her feet.

"Yeah." she replied as he wiped away some of her tears. She couldn't believe that Giles could and had betrayed them all.

"Then help me, Rona. Help me cleanse the Council of this evil."

"What do, I have to do?" she asked.

"Nothing more then you have too. Now get some sleep, we have much to do tomorrow."

"Before I do, I have to know something. Who are you?"

"Just know that under this mask lies a friend." X said, keeping her gaze. "Good night." with that said she walked off and into another room, Drusilla passing her on the way.

"Daddy, I had a horrible dream." Drusilla said, in her childlike manner as she walked up to him.

"What was it about?" he asked as he clutched his chest in pain. For some reason he'd been hurting for the past day or so.

"It's the owl...the owl is going to hurt the little key."

The Watcher's Council

Sametime

Giles watched Andrew walk out of his office, with a look of disgust on his face, as he stood to his feet and walked into a secret room. He had just reported to him that Robson was found murdered in a subway train, by code name X. Now without his old friend his mission was about to become that much harder. He had visited Xander's grave site and much like he thought Xander was gone.

"Well, atleast I still have you." he said as he picked up a huge knife and stared down at the girl he layed at his feet, bound and gagged. Looking up at him with a glare, Dawn tried to scream.