1997
Xander stood there on his front lawn on his old street just enjoying the moment. He found that unlike before where he might have stuttered or shifted around Sunnydale without a purpose always eager to say or do something now, he enjoyed the moments of quiet reflection. The front lawn hadn't been mowed for a while and now the grass was overgrown. Hardly surprising as the house of Harris never did like to do chores. Xander smiled slowly as he saw movement from the front window. He had been looking forward to doing this for some time.
"What the hell!" came a voice opening the door, it was his father's the head of the house no less. "What the hell is wrong with you? We don't hear or see anything from you for days! There is this massacre at the Bronze! Reports of more murders and you just show up at the front garden!" Xander's Dad yells at his son.
Xander said nothing merely looking at the man he had called dad with a cool indifference. "You don't come home? Where have been all this time?! What are you ... ashamed of us? Your mother's crying her guts out!" Xander's Dad says as he gestures back into the house.
"You don't understand," Xander says coolly finally speaking up. Somehow Xander got the feeling that his father is not going to like what he had in store for him. He wondered if Willow was met with the same reaction as he was meeting her parents. The newly risen vampires had laughed at the idea of killing their parents and tonight had set out to do just that. Willow was off with hers and Xander was here to kill his.
At this statement Xander's Dad fumes. "No. You don't understand." He moves outside out of the house towards Xander stomping angrily. "The line ends here with us, and you're not gonna change that!"
"Want to bet?" Xander grins and vamps out shocking his father, his razor-sharp fangs gleaming in the moonlight.
Before Xander's father could react Xander sunk his sharp teeth into his neck with a vicious chomp. Xander's father struggled to get him off, but his son had an iron grip on him. Fear and panic began to grip the older man as he felt his blood flow from his neck and his son gladly drink it down. Fearing for his life the man tried to call out, but sound just couldn't come from his voice no matter how hard he tried and wished. Xander dropped his father's body to the ground and admired his handiwork for a moment as the man struggled gasping for breath slowly bleeding out from his neck wound. His father looked up at him with disbelief, shock and for the first time ever fear. Fear for the attack that his son done for him. Fear in what his son now was. In background both men could hear the wailing and screaming of Xander's mother as she looked out the window and saw what was happening.
Xander grinned down at soon to be corpse and smiled. "You're going to love death Dad." He says to the man well aware that the man was moments from leaving this world. "It's very enriching. It changes you." And with that Xander's father died on the street right in front of his son. Xander stared at the carnage he'd caused and grinned before walking away on his way to create more horrors. His mother's screams and cries was music to his ears, he decided to kill her another day. A few days of madness would do her good.
XXXXXX
Present Day
The moon was just a small sliver of light in the otherwise black sky, illuminating the rows upon rows of tombstones with its ghostly pale glow. It was seemed almost like the moon seemed lonely without the stars out to keep it company during the long night. The wind was unusually cold for southern California, but then Sunnydale was nothing if not unusual. The boarded-up windows, the trash blowing down the street, abandoned cars in the middle of what passed for downtown in this one Starbucks town painted an ugly picture. Sunnydale really had gone to hell with little hope of change but still while others may have given up a little band of fighters roamed the graveyard in an attempt to offer some form of resistance.
The two members trying to form resistance were moving slowly in the graveyard each alert and very aware of the dangerous territory they were strolling in. Rupert Giles clenched his jacket tighter, and he could feel an ample supply of wooden stakes pressing into his ribs.
"You, OK?" Giles looked over at his patrolling partner who asked the question, Alexander, the vampire with a soul. Giles liked him all right, certainly more than most vampires in this town but it still slightly irked him to have a vampire as a partner. "Just cold," Giles replied brusquely.
They continued walking in silence. In fact, all Giles could hear was the graveyard grass crunching under his feet and his heart beating in his ears. His eyes slid over to Alexander again. The moody vampire was even more silent than usual tonight. It was hard to believe that this man was the resident school clown from what he gathered about Alexander's life before being turned. He was so angry, so on edge. This person had been hardened by circumstances. "Are you ok?" He repeated Alexander's question from earlier.
"Fine." The vampire's tone was short and clipped, signalling that he didn't want to talk about it and the pair went back into an uneasy silence. Suddenly this was cut short by the sound of wood splintering and breaking nearby. Gripping his stake tightly in his right hand and nodding to Giles, Alexander took off at supernatural speed toward the sound, weaving around the tombstones with an ease that only one familiar with the graveyard's layout could possibly possess. Rounding a rather large mausoleum at breakneck speed, Alexander skidded to a halt in front of a tombstone engraved with the name "Owen Thurman" in bold letters. Coming from beneath the freshly piled dirt was a pair of pale, bony hands. "Too bad," he murmured sadly as he watched the vampire continue to claw his way free of the earth. "Owen might have been a little too into his Emily Dickinson, but he definitely didn't deserve this."
Alexander waited until the vampire formally known as Owen managed to pull himself completely from the ground before he moved in, stake in hand. The newly born demon tried to fight back, but he didn't stand a chance. He was slow, weak from lack of blood and still distorted from just reawakening. Avoiding the thing's sloppy punches and kicks easily, Alexander stabbed the vampire through the heart with his stake and quickly stepped back as it exploded into a pile of dust, coating Alexander s new jacket with the nasty brown stuff. "Too easy," he said dusting himself off.
"More like sloppy," a voice from behind him came. Xander tensed knowing it was not Giles and turned to find Absalom, a high-ranking member Order of Aurelius holding a rather large, heavy looking sledgehammer and with four vampires. "Silly scared little boy," Absalom taunted stepping forward. "Taking on a fledging when there are far more powerful opponents in this town to choose from."
Alexander offered a grin one very rare these days. "It got you out of the Bronze didn't it."
Absalom's yellow eyes narrow. This was a trap? Bait to lure him out. "No matter," he dismissed raising the sledgehammer slightly. "You are still outnumbered. Consider your death a rare act of the kindness from the Master. Putting down a lame, wounded abomination of a vampire." He and the other vampires moved toward Xander fully intend on tearing him limb from limb and grinding his bones into dust.
"Bored now," Xander simply offered and there was a flash of light behind all of them. One of vampires with Absalom actually cowered believing it was daylight despite the late hour, but rest simply looked in confusion. Suddenly a bolt of an energy blast came out of the light hitting two of the vampires who were knocked painfully to the group. Out of the light stepped Rupert Giles his hands burning red with power.
Absalom growled at seeing the librarian. "Get him!" He yelled at his followers before turning to face Alexander. The vampires snarled and raced towards Giles who held out his hand firing more energy blast at them while manipulating the fingers on his other hand. A stake came flying out his jacket all on its own plunging into the closest vampire's heart who screamed in agony and burst into dust. The stake continued up in the air, influenced by Giles's use of telekinesis stabbing a second vampire in the heart.
Alexander ducked the swing of the hammer Absalom held. The dark-skinned vampire roared as he swung again wanting to take the younger vampire's head clean off. Alexander ducked out of the way and kicked the man hard in the ribs causing Absalom to stumble slightly. "You traitor!" Absalom spat out in disgust lashing out with the hammer which did this time connect to Alexander knocking him into a gravestone. Absalom moved quickly wanting to press the advantage and raised the hammer high above Xander who looked at it without emotion. Suddenly the hammer fell out of Absalom's hands as he began to scream in pain. Red light and heat began to emerge from his chest as his cries grew louder. Xander looked past him and saw Giles there with his hands pointed at Absalom's chest glowing brightly red. The red light grew and grew until Absalom became consumed with it and burst into flames. He wailed in despair and moments later was nothing more than ash in the wind like the rest of his gang.
"Nice trick," Alexander said to Giles getting to his feet grimacing slightly where Absalom had stuck him. "You couldn't have simply done that to all of them earlier?"
"Sadly, it takes rather a lot of power and energy," the man replied leaning on a gravestone trying to catch his breath.
Alexander studied the man noting he seemed far more frail and tired than before. His face was grey and lacking any colour like he hadn't slept right or lacked energy. "Come on," he said looking around. "It looks like that was all of them and we had better get you inside before I go back out again."
"I would agree," Giles said as Xander took his arm over his shoulder and helped the British man back the way they came. "Wait back out? Do you think that is wise? To go out here again all alone? Are not hurt yourself?" Giles asked him.
"Nope," Xander offered shaking his head. "Oh, he got me in the ribs yes, but I will be fine," the vampire confirmed before adding. "These vamps have nothing compared to my old dad." For a moment, Giles wanted to say more. He wanted to speak to this young man he could have so often viewed as a friend and tell him he needn't throw himself into such danger. The things he'd lost, they were not his fault for losing. He wanted to tell him to take his time, grieve for the fallen, and begin to rebuild the life that had been torn from him.
To do such a thing would feel far too hypocritical, however.
XXXX
1999
The library doors swung open. Giles didn't even bother to look up from the text he was so engrossed with while chewing his glasses. "Rupert Giles?"
"Yes, what is it?" He asked short and impatient. Damn students looking for another book that they think will give them all the answers to the next chemistry test. He looked up to see a woman standing before him. She looked to be in her early forties, smartly dressed and with pleasant features. But, whilst she seemed calm, Giles had enough experience of life in Sunnydale to recognise when someone was barely holding it together. You could see it in the eyes. At this unexpected visitor Giles rediscovered his manners. "Terribly sorry I am Rupert Giles how can I help you?" He said closing his book.
The woman seemed to consider this for a moment. She studied Giles for a moment. He looked haggard and tired. There were dark circles around his eyes under his wired rimmed glasses. She glanced at the bruise on Giles's cheek, the latest wound from fighting the good fight at night. The woman raised a slight eyebrow at the text Giles had been consulting, its leather cover decorated with fading runes. "Perhaps. My name is Joyce Summers and I'm looking for my daughter, Buffy." Joyce explained introducing herself. "She came to Sunnydale at your request two weeks ago. I haven't heard from her since."
Oh shit.
Giles searched for the right words, but the pause and his expression were enough for Mrs Summers.
"She's dead, isn't she?" Joyce whispered.
"Yes, I'm afraid she is," Giles could only offered. "I'm so sorry."
Her composure shattered and Joyce sank to her knees, sobbing, mumbling a litany of denial. Unable to find any suitable words of comfort, Giles came forward and placed a hand on the other woman's shoulder. They remained there until Joyce's grief gave way to a moment of silence and still. Joyce's hand gripped Giles's outstretched arm. "Who did it?"
Later sitting at one of the library desks with a mug of hot, sweet tea, Joyce had recovered some of her composure, though her throat was tight, and her eyes burned. "It's funny, I've – I've tried to prepare myself for this for over a year now, since I she told me she was a Slayer. And – and I've been losing her for a lot longer than that. But it still hits you like a runaway train."
"She told you she was a slayer?" Giles inquired surprised at the news. The council always believe it was best for the slayer to work in secret for the protection of others and for security no matter what the circumstances or environment the slayer worked in.
"She had to," Joyce offered sadly. "Her father and I sent to her a psychiatric clinic after she burned down the school gym in LA. I honestly thought it would help her, but it didn't. Still the nights were she would sneak out or stay out remained. I took her to different doctors, tried everything to stop her believing about the supernatural but it didn't work. She come home covered in bruises and cuts if she came home at all. We had a massive fight, and she ran away some months ago. I have been trying to find her ever since." Joyce admitted before burying her head in her hands. "I should have believed her. She told me the truth so many times."
"Sometimes people cannot believe what they are told. The truth can be too frightening or… real for them." Giles summarized. It must have seemed absurd to any mother that her little girl was a powerful veteran of a nightly war no matter the clues and signs. "If it helps any, she died fighting."
Joyce nodded, trying to find comfort in that. For years she had just been a mother of a property-damaging troublemaker at the very least she was now a mother to hero. "But this – Master, he survived?"
Yes," Giles nodded. "The assault on the factory weakened him, a little. Took out some of his most vicious lieutenants, stopped his plans to mechanise the slaughter, at least for now. But I'm sure it won't be long before he's back, and probably stronger than before… I'm not sure what we can do to stop any of it."
"Which is what I don't understand," Joyce said. "Why don't you just leave?
Giles had considered this several times over the years. Why did he stay? There were watchers needed all over the world surely, he could put in for an easier assignment in fact he knew he could. But he just shrugged. "Someone's got to do something. If not me, then who?" He sipped some of his own tea. "You should go Mrs Summers," he told her. "Sunnydale is not safe for anyone… I've lost what little help I had." Giles said sadly thinking about Oz and Larry who did not make it out of the factory alive. "It's best if you go."
"Go… I've lost everything." Joyce spoke harshly. "My marriage! My little girl! Everything I knew!"
"You have your life!" Giles replied. "Here there is nothing."
Rupert never saw the woman again. He suspected that he suspected that she didn't take him on is words to live her life.
XXX
Present Day
Returning home a weary Rupert Giles fumbled with the keys to his apartment, wanting nothing more than to relax in the comfort of his own home. In one hand standing next to him was Alexander leaning against a wall while keeping an eye out for any attacks while he attempted to get his keys out of his jacket pocket. They had gone back into a silence. Most days that is all that is between them. He then felt Alexander's hand on his shoulder and turned to face the vampire who had a curious expression on his face. "Something is wrong," the vampire stated.
Cautiously the pair entered Giles's house both now very alert. Nothing looked broken or ransacked but then a small lamb by a chair came on and the pair saw a man sitting there. "Collins," Giles said recognising the man.
"Rupert," Collins replied smiling faintly Alexander noticed the small handgun he was casually holding.
Then in a rush another smaller man Weatherby burst in from the front door that Giles and Alexander had just entered holding a crossbow firmly pointed at Alexander. "Who are they?" Alexander growled eyeing the intruders warily. They looked like professionals and psychopaths so unlikely to panic in a struggle not good odds for himself and Giles.
"An operations team," Giles explained eyeing Collins. "They handle the Council's trickier jobs. Smuggling, interrogation, wet works."
"As well as killing you and your kind," Weatherby sneered at Alexander wanting nothing more than to pull the trigger at dust the vampire before him.
"Weatherby," Collins warned his partner who didn't back down.
"A Watcher working for a vampire!" Weatherby continued holding the crossbow at Alexander but speaking to Giles. "It's perversion! "Do the sacred oaths you swore as a Watcher mean nothing to you now?"
"Enough Weatherby!" Collins said more forcefully. Weatherby didn't reply but didn't pull the trigger so that was something. "Nice place you have here Rupert. Very different than back home." The man said eyeing Alexander.
"Talk and get out," Giles demanded his right hand glowing fainty an action that did not go unnoticed by Collins or his man.
"Dappling in dark magic again Rupert?" Collins said. "My how the mighty have fallen."
"Tools to an end," Giles replied which was the only justification he was going to give these three gits. Giles use of dark magic had previously been on casting a few simple spells but now after losing so much… he had to push himself deeper and further into his use of magic. Stakes and crossbows simply wouldn't cut it against the Master and his army.
"Well, we have some experience in that," Weatherby admitted smiling faintly. "It's why we are here in fact."
"Oh really?" Giles all but laughed. "Come to join me on the front lines have you now?" he asked his tone dripping in sarcasm.
"Hardly," Collins replied. "But more like add to your ranks." He held up his gun and gestured to outside. The four men walked together in an uneasy truce, Giles's instincts told him that he and Alexander should attack but at the same time he was curious to see why Collins and his team were here for and what he was talking about. Coming to the parking garage in Giles's building there was a van where another one of Collins's team Smith stood holding a machine gun. Getting the nod from Collins, Smith turned and opened the van door causing Giles to gasp at what he saw.
"What the bloody hell is this?!" He turned to Collins.
"What does it look like you pounce?" Weatherby answered from behind Giles. "It's the bloody slayer!"
Inside was a girl, brunette, soft features, young - still in her teens Giles would guess. She was chained with some heavy looking chains and rope. She was unconscious and if Giles had to guess drugged to be that way. "What is the meaning of this?!" Giles demanded looking at Collins for answers.
"You are the one who wrote to the council saying that there was a hellmouth here and a major vampire in town," Collins said with a bored expression. He didn't look like cared all that much about the status of the slayer. While many members would disagree others would argue that The Council was also known for placing its principles and perceived goals ahead of the well-being of the Slayer.
"That was over three years ago!" Giles exclaimed in anger.
Collins shrugged and gestured to the girl inside. "Here is their reply." Giles frowned annoyed at that. Bunch of bureaucrats and fools sitting in country clubs having a brandies and cigars while the Master rose. For a long time, the Council's policy toward the Master was one of containment. His activities have been primarily confined to Sunnydale, so far so it seemed that the Council was happy to let him having the site. Giles's reports and calls on the master's activities were unanswered and forgotten so he had all but given up on any help from the Council. It was Buffy Summers, the small, scarred blond who really threw the gauntlet to the vampires by directly attacking him in a factory of his. This caused a ripple affect of both the Master going to ground a few months buying Giles enough time to resurrect Alexander but also causing other vampires to lay claim to the title of master. Reports recently came in that Kendra, Buffy's successor had died from her wounds she received from battling, besting and dusting a particularly old vampire Kakistos. Giles had no idea who and where Kendra's successor was until now.
"I take it judging by her state she hasn't agreed to come here?" Alexander spoke up finally.
"Shut it!" Weatherby snarled at him raising the crossbow Xander glared back at him.
"He has a point what is her mental state? Is she willing to help?" Giles asked Collins.
"What she is, is the package. I deliver the package. I don't much care what's inside." Collins replied in an even tone to which Giles rolled his eyes. While Collins was clearly the most level-headed of the Operations Team, he was still willing to do anything in the pursuit of justice. Turning back to look at the slayer things were about to get even more interesting Giles decided.
