Chapter Three
"Wills, I'm telling you, I'm bored out of my mind," Anne groaned into the phone as she hung up her unpacked clothes. Her apartment was not what she expected. She would have called it a house if she didn't know any better -- it was that big, and that complex. Even though it was fully paid by the Council already, Anne was still a little uneasy living in such a big house by herself. It didn't seem fair to the people -- her friends and family -- in Sunnydale. It didn't seem fair to her.
"Yes, Willow -- I went shopping as soon as I got here. I'm sending you guys a lot of stuff. Of course, clothes!" Anne laughed. "Yeah, put Xander on the phone." She took a pause before resuming the talk. "Xand! How're you coping?"
Anne held the phone between her ear and shoulder as she slipped on a black jacket, getting ready for the Council meeting at lunch. "Sorry, Xander," she said into the phone a few seconds later, laughter in her eyes. "I don't need you or your worthless male instrument to get ahead in life. You're a nice guy but please, I'm a Slayer." She laughed a few more times before sharing her goodbyes with the group and getting ready to meet the Council. Hesitating before leaving, she grabbed a stake and put it into her inside pocket before locking the door behind her.
Andrew had given her very specific instructions. Sucks that the Council can buy me an apartment (or house…) and yet not order a limo for lunch meetings, Anne thought to herself as she briskly walked down the sidewalks of London for the second time in twenty-four hours. It was noon but hardly warm, unsurprisingly. Glancing down at the neatly typed directions in her hand, Anne's thoughts drifted to the Watcher's Council.
I'm actually in England! she thought to herself. The Almost-Giles country!
As she breathed in a breath of outdoor air, it suddenly occurred to her that in a few hours, she would be an official addition to the Council. The first nineteen year old, the first Slayer, and more importantly…the first woman.
"How does it feel?" Giles had asked her early on in the day on her Sunnydale call. She had felt numb, as if none of this was real. As if she was just living an ordinary life.
The realization hadn't sunk in until now. Her grin slowly got bigger, spreading into a full blown smile. She let out a small yell of satisfaction and jumped in the air before the adrenaline pumped into her. Anne felt her Slayer senses building, getting more energized with each second that passed. She broke into a sprint, dodging the confused stares and angry people.
After several seconds, she started to slow down. Not because she was tired, but because her intuition was hitting her strongly. It felt like someone was following her. As Annie started to walk, she realized it was true: someone was following her.
It couldn't be a vampire, she thought to herself, turning a corner into a dead end. Maybe someone from the Council.
I'll show them.
Anne smirked before jumping up and grabbing hold of the fire escape above her. She curled up into a ball, making herself invisible to any passers-by. The sound of footsteps drew near, and within a moment, Anne saw a young man in a black trench coat walking into the alley. She waited for him to pass underneath her before letting go of the fire escape and knocking the stranger down with her feet.
He fell gracefully, showing the moves of a fighter. She approached him as he flipped on his back to get up, only to be pined down again by her foot on his chest.
"Ah, heh," he coughed, not bothering to get up. "Is there a problem, ma'am?"
"Yeah, there's a problem," she answered bitterly. "And don't ma'am me."
"I know what you're thinking," he said quickly, "but I don't bite."
She released him from under her and took a hesitant step back. Keeping her fighting stance, she watched him get up. ""Why are you following me?"
"I thought you'd be bigger," he answers, cracking his neck and avoiding her question. Anne let it slide as she started to relax in his presence. "You know, more muscles and all that."
Realization hit her hard. She blinked.
"You're from the Council, aren't you?"
"Strong and smart," the man muttered as he dusted off his pants. "Well, you'll be happy to know you past the first test."
"So now what? I get a lovely watch and a year's supply of Turtle Wax?" Anne let her hands fall and her eyes roll. "I can't believe this! I thought I was already accepted into the Council?"
"Not quite," he answered cryptically. "You can't turn your back on this."
Anne looked at him, noticing his face for the first time. He was slightly pale, and there was something about him she didn't exactly trust. Then again, there was something about everyone that she didn't trust.
"On what?" she asked. "The Council?"
"On everything." She sensed some different message that she wasn't quite grasping but didn't bother to ask. She walked out of the alley, bored and worried about the Council meeting.
"By the way," Anne called over her shoulder, "who are you?"
When she turned back around, the mysterious man was no where to be found.
Anne sighed before digging in her pocket for the directions to the building of the Watcher's Council.
Why couldn't they make this easier and just have a sign?
Angel entered the Council's headquarters with a slight limp. Spike snorted.
"She tear you up that bad, Angelus?"
Angel growled Spike's name before taking a seat at the table and removing a green ring from his finger. He slid it over to Travers, who safely tucked it into his pocket. Only a selected few were chosen to attend the luncheon, and Angel's only regret was siring Spike so that he could be here.
"I take it everything went according to plan then, Angel?" Travers said with a slight smile.
"And then some."
"I also take it you left her in the dust with your disappearing act?"
Angel smiled. "It's my signature move."
A new voice spoke from the end of the room. "Not for long."
All heads turned to greet the newest official, Anne Summers. Her only gaze was on Angel.
"Knew you were going to be here."
He shrugged. "Didn't see the sense in telling you."
Travers laughed heartily, trying to get away from the subject of the Council spying on it's members. "So, since you've already met Angel, I suppose you would --"
"Actually," Anne said as she took a seat. "I didn't."
The two shook hands. Anne barely looked at his face twice before getting to business, Spike noticed with shock. Most girls -- and women, for that fact -- tried their hardest to get the vampire to notice them. It was something new, and Spike liked it.
"I see Angel's boyish charms have yet to phase you," Spike murmured as Anne shook his hand.
"I'll have to add that to my list of "what Anne's number one at"."
The group shared a laugh as more introductions were made. Anne met Wesley Wyndham-Pryce, Travers, and a few others she couldn't remember the names of. Even Andrew showed up, but Anne was careful to address him as Mr. Wells in the privacy of the Council. Just in case.
"Welcome to the Watcher's Council, Ms. Summers," Travers said as everyone sat down. "Let's get to business, then."
"A few questions, if I may, Mr. Travers," Anne interrupted. She knew the rites of passage as Master Watcher had to be earned, and going business-like was one of the answers. The group looked at her curiously, some admiring her boldness and others becoming weary of the power she could yield. Spike was among the latter.
"Back home, at Sunnydale, vampiric activity has risen immensely," Anne stated matter-of-factly. "I've talked to other Slayers located primarily in the US, and we've all agreed that something's going on we don't know about." A few Master Watchers shifted in their seats uncomfortably -- it didn't go unnoticed by Anne, as she made a mental checklist of those squirming. "I've been making rounds -- I mean, slaying sweeps -- every hour, and it seems to keep the fort down but -- "
"Who's keeping watch of the vampires in Sunnydale now that you're in England?" Wesley asked her.
"Agreed," another one spoke up as patronizing gazes swept over her. "Since you have been neglecting your Slayer duties at home -- "
"Neglecting is hardly the word I would use," Anne spoke up. She realized they were trying to swerve the conversation in a different direction.
"Faith Evans," she answered, looking towards Wesley. "Loyal Slayer of Los Angeles, California, amazing fighter, and trusted friend."
"Now that that's been cleared," Travers stated, "let's discuss -- "
Anne was angry. They were treating her like a little kid, something to be toyed with and used before thrown away as another pawn.
"My question hasn't been answered." Her slow and dangerous voice was weaved with pent-up frustration and a cold glare.
The Master Watchers around her sat in silence. Angel cleared his throat. "That's top secret information, Miss Summers," he said in a voice that visibly calmed her. "We can't release it quite yet."
"But what we can do is tell you that you're right," Wesley offered. "Demonic activities have been increasing around the globe."
Anne rolled her eyes. "Wow, a gold star for stating the obvious!" She looked around the table. "I am a Slayer. I received a job I never wanted, never even asked for, along with thousands of other females around the world. Keeping me and all others in the dark will only lodge my mistrust in this politically corrupt Council and keep me at bay." She stood up and grabbed her jacket. "Don't think for a second I don't know why I was somehow chosen to be accepted into this. I'm not a little innocent girl, as some of you continue to think, and I can play politics like the back of my hand. I was planning to major in it if I ever went to college."
With the last statement said, Anne marched away from the table and out of sight.
Spike was the first one to speak. "Well," he said, leaning back in his seat, "she's got spunk."
Travers sighed. "We can't underestimate her any longer. Angel, you'll have to double your efforts and gain her trust. We can't lose her -- "
"Do you think that's such a good idea, Travers?" Angel asked. "You heard her. If she even gets the slightest hint that I'm -- that we're -- "
Travers scowled. "Of course I heard her. The more reason to keep an eye on her." His attention turned to the rest of the Master Watchers. "Everyone, work on gaining her trust. We can't do anything until she hears us out. Wells, maybe you'd like to show her the training room, or something."
Andrew stood up. "Consider it done. She's been itching for a fight since she got here, sir."
Travers nodded as Andrew left. Wesley spoke up in the silence.
"Maybe we should just tell her?"
Angel nodded. "I agree."
Spike looked at the two of them like they were crazy. "We just bloody met her! How can you just jump into the sodding girl's arms like that -- "
"I think she proved to all of us that she isn't naive enough to be toyed with," Angel calmly stated.
Spike smirked. "Maybe not a girl in some areas, Angel, but in others -- "
"What are you implying, childe?" an angry Angel asked.
The blonde shrugged in response, grinning. Wesley stood before any more tension could be felt.
"I think," he interrupted, "that we should wait awhile before giving Ms. Summers any intricate details. I don't think it would be wise to wait for long, however."
Travers stayed silent, twirling his pen in his hand as the rest of the Master Watchers argued.
