Chapter 51: Zoe

Buffy and Savannah walked into the bar they were told Zoe Takano would be at finding a dozen patrons, most of them alone. Xavier had said the bartender was a supernatural. He didn't say what kind, and it didn't matter. Most supernaturals would recognize the Slayer even if they didn't recognize her face or name.

Zoe Takano was easy to spot. For one thing, she was the only woman. For another, she was clean—with gleaming black hair, a tight white T-shirt, black jeans and motorcycle boots. And she looked more alive than anything in the bar, which, all things considered, was kind of sad.

She sat at a corner table, reading the Sun, her hand wrapped around an icy beer bottle. When Buffy and Savannah stepped in, she was the first one to look up—the only one to look up. She gave them a slow once-over, then made it a twice-over, her index finger tapping the bottle neck. Buffy was sure that she was sizing up whether she could take them.

"Zoe Takano?" Buffy said.

Her gaze slid up Buffy and then Savannah, taking their measure. Across the room, the bartender stopped wiping the counter and looked over at them, eyes narrowing. He recognized Buffy for what she was also. Zoe must have given him some signal because he nodded and returned to his wiping.

"Zoe Takano?" Buffy repeated.

"At your service, Slayer." Her eyes glittered then, in anticipation, but there was no hunger behind it, still only curiosity. "And I presume it is service that you're looking for, a service I can provide?"

"I have a proposition—" Buffy said.

She chuckled. "Exactly what I was hoping."

"It's a job—" Buffy said.

"Ah, business. Too bad."

Buffy hesitated. "You aren't taking clients—"

A tinkling laugh, like wind chimes. "Oh, I'm always taking clients. Don't mind me. It's been a slow week, and when there's little to amuse me, I start to amuse myself. Sit, sit."

Buffy and Savannah pulled out chairs and sat down. "Thank you," they said.

"A cold drink?" she said.

"Um, no. we're fine."

Zoe looked toward Savannah, "Now how is it there are two of you?"

"This is my daughter," Buffy said, "The first of a line of hereditary Slayers."

"Ah," Zoe said. "That will change the game immensely won't it?"

"Anyways we were told—" Buffy started.

"First things first," she said, leaning back in her chair. "Credentials. I presume you come on a recommendation. May I ask from whom?"

"I, uh, was hoping we could do this someplace less…public," Buffy said. Oh, sure she had roughed up Willy a few times in Sunnydale. But Willy's bar had served supernatural and only humans aware of the supernatural. So there had been no worry about the normal human population seeing anything they couldn't dismiss so they could remain ignorant of the supernatural world.

Another tinkling laugh and she leaned forward. "Does anyone in here look like they could summon the energy to eavesdrop, much less the inclination? Or is it you want to rough me up in private? You are not the first Slayer I've tangled with."

"Alright," Buffy said. "I'll tell you. His name's Xavier Reese. He said you don't know him personally. I then asked for you with some of my demon contacts that I have here in the city. And they told me where to find you. One of them was Aaron Darnell."

A spark of interest behind the caution, but still cool. "Did you? And what did he say?"

"That you were reasonably trustworthy … for a thief."

Her dark eyes danced as she grinned. "Ah, Aaron. He tries to be understanding, but he can't shake his disapproval. Not many would understand why a vampire would choose to open a business. And for your information, Slayer. Being a legitimate business owner is safer for me. I buy my blood so I keep you and your kind out of my hair."

She tapped her fingernails against her beer bottle then, gaze still down, gave a tiny "What the hell" smile, and pushed back her chair.

"All right," she said. "Let's go outside and you can tell me what all this is about." Buffy and Savannah stepped out of the bar first. Zoe paused in the doorway, looking, listening, sensing, and then followed them out.

They got two steps into the adjacent alley, Buffy turned to ask, "Is this good enough?" and Zoe was already lunging toward her. Her fangs met Savannah's fist and she flew into the brick wall with a yelp. She dove again this time at Savannah who sent her sailing down the alley with an uppercut to the jaw.

"Hope you weren't too hungry," Buffy said.

"Hungry?" She only laughed and stretched out on the ground under me, as if relaxing. "Not at all, but it seemed like the quickest way to get past all that 'I want to talk someplace private' nonsense and find out what you really want." She slid her tongue over her split lip.

"We need to talk to you about something you stole a long time ago," Buffy said.

"Business already?"

"It's that or toss you around a bit more," Buffy said. "And believe me, I have experience doing just that. I'll even make you a deal. Since you say you don't drink straight from humans that you buy your blood, probably from a blood bank or a butcher. I will let you live if you give us what you know."

A soft sigh. "Oh, all right. Something I stole a long time ago, hmmm? I've stolen a lot of things, and most of them a long time ago."

"I think this object would fall under the heading of unique and memorable. Jack the Ripper's From Hell letter," Buffy said.

Her expression didn't change.

"Stolen from the London Metropolitan Police eighty years ago?" Buffy said. "Sold to a local sorcerer's family? Do you remember that?"

"Vaguely." She said. "I'd rather talk about you two." Quid pro quo. Buffy had done this to a small degree to get some tight-lipped demons to talk. But she rarely gave out personal details, preferring to rough them up instead. "Now, what did you two say your names were?"

"We didn't," Buffy said.

"I know, I was just giving you two the opportunity to correct the oversight." She smiled, teeth glistening in the dim light. "But if you don't want to, I suppose that will give us something to talk about next time."

She sprang to her feet and raced down the alley—the other way, toward an eight-foot fence, as Buffy and Savannah gave chase.

Buffy and Savannah spotted Zoe across the road as she darted into a side street. They hurried across. After a few more streets and alleys, they reached a stretch of open land leading to the foot of a wooded hill.

Buffy recognized where they were, High Park. It had been one of her patrol routes because it was so close to the University of Toronto. Buffy and Savannah watched Zoe's white T-shirt disappear into the woods.

"We're not going to catch her like this," Buffy said. "We'll see if you can stay caught up with me. If for any reason what so ever you fall behind, I want you to teleport straight to Jeremy. I know it's still shaky but I'd rather you have a headache and a nosebleed than be out here by yourself."

"I'm not leaving you, mom. I'll stay caught up," Savannah said.

Buffy nodded as they headed into the woods. Savannah stood guard as Buffy initiated the Change. Moments later she lifted her muzzle and took a deep breath, her legs trembling with excitement. She nuzzled Savannah to let her daughter know she was ready.

Buffy tried to pick up Zoe's trail. She found it as she ran full speed down the path with Savannah, surprisingly at her heels. There was no need to take cover. There wouldn't be any other predators here, and if they came upon a person, well Savannah could say she was out walking her dog.

Buffy recognized where Zoe was heading, the same place Dawn had always went for a run when they lived in Toronto, the ravine. Behind Buffy, Savannah whispered for Buffy to stop. She looked up and saw they were at the top of the cliff and there, below, was Zoe's white shirt bobbing along the path. She'd slowed to a brisk walk; certain she'd left them behind.

Hindquarters twitching, Buffy tested her grip for takeoff. A flick of her tail and she barreled down the cliff, picking up speed with every stride. She was less than ten feet behind Zoe when she finally heard her. She turned and saw what was barreling at her. A werewolf followed by a teenage Slayer.

Buffy saw the split-second look of "Oh, my God" surprise and, yes, terror as Zoe realized what was going on. Realizing that not only had there been two Slayers in her bar, but one of them was also a werewolf.

Zoe did what anyone seeing a 117-pound wolf barreling straight at them, followed by a teenage Slayer, would do—tried to run. But before she could move, Buffy sprang and caught her in the shoulder. She went down, managing to roll as she fell.

Buffy could have snagged her arm. Could have…but chose not to because it had all been too easy. Buffy didn't worry about taking it easy with Zoe. Short of decapitating the vampire she couldn't do much lasting damage. Her bite couldn't even turn her into a werewolf since the vampire was already dead. But she could toy with her, safely. Even Jeremy would see the value in it, giving her a taste of Buffy's werewolf enhanced Slayer strength as a bargaining tool for negotiations.

Buffy let Zoe dive out of the way. Then snarling and snapping, she grabbed for Zoe's arm, only grazing the vampire's bare skin with her fangs, but making a good show of it. She charged Zoe again, Zoe feinted to the side and then she started to run.

Buffy gave Zoe a ten-second head start while she checked for Savannah who came up beside her.

"You are enjoying this aren't you, mom?" Savannah asked as Buffy nuzzled her.

Then Buffy took off as Savannah followed on her heals once again. She started to close the gap right away. Zoe zagged off the path into the bush, dodging trees and ducking under branches with a gymnast's grace.

Savannah stayed on the path, out of sight, racing ahead to cut Zoe off if she got away from Buffy. Buffy wove through the forest, getting close enough to be spattered with clods of dirt thrown up by Zoe's boots.

Zoe didn't trip or falter once. A car horn blared, and Buffy's ears shot forward. The rumble of tires, the stench of exhaust, the faint glow of streetlights. Damn! Another hundred feet and they'd be out of the park. Buffy skidded to a halt, threw back her head and howled. Before the last note left her throat, Buffy's werewolf enhanced Slayer hearing heard Savannah calling from southwest … and Zoe was heading due south. Savannah would never cut her off in time.

Buffy roared back into pursuit, scanning the darkness as she ran. Zoe's T-shirt bobbed to her left, but she already knew Zoe was there. What Buffy wanted was—there, just southeast of them, an open patch.

Buffy flew forward on a southwest angle, coming up to the right of Zoe. Like anything fleeing a predator, she instinctively turned away from Buffy and headed southeast. When she hit the edge of the clearing, Buffy hunkered down, running as fast as she could, counting off the paces between them and then … airborne.

Buffy hit Zoe between the shoulder blades. She tripped, and as she fell, she twisted so they ended face-to-face, Buffy atop her.

Zoe looked up and met Buffy's eyes. Hers widened, surprised and … delighted. A throaty laugh.

"It is you, isn't it?" She stroked the ruff on Buffy's neck. Buffy growled, but she only smiled. "That hair is unmistakable. I don't know which is more beautiful—the Slayer or the wolf." Her eyes glinted. "Equally deadly either way, I'll bet. Though to tell the truth I would love to know sometime how a Slayer managed to get bitten and become the ultimate predator."

She buried her fingers in Buffy fur. Buffy snapped. She laughed.

"Tetchy. You prefer the chase to the catch, don't you?" A wicked grin. "We can have another go. You've won this round, so I'll give you your forfeit—tell you what I know about the letter. But if you'd rather play some more before we get down to business, I'm game."

Buffy lifted up her head to look for Savannah. Zoe brushed her fingertips along the fur at Buffy's throat. She snapped again.

"Come now, I'm only curious. I've never touched a werewolf. The only two I've met weren't the sort I cared to talk to, much less touch." She leaned back for a better look. "A female werewolf. Women make the better predators. That's why the Slayer is always a woman. Or so I think anyways."

She continued to talk. Being unable to speak gave Buffy a good excuse for not participating in the conversation. Zoe didn't seem to mind, just lay there on her back, pinned by a wolf, chatting as calmly as if they were back in Miller's, having a beer.

About ten minutes after her takedown, the bushes rustled. Savannah stepped through.

"Got your clothes here, mom," Savannah said as she laid them just outside a thicket where Buffy could Change. She then walked over and put her foot on Zoe's sternum. Buffy backed off her and loped to the thicket to Change.

"Thank God," Zoe said when Buffy returned. "Your little girl here isn't much of a talker."

"Let her up, sweetie," Buffy said as Savannah lifted her foot and walked over next to her mother.

"Just out of curiosity how did you manage to get bitten," Zoe said.

"Accident. Was helping the Pack. They were taking on a mutt while I guarded civilians trying to get away. The mutt lunged at me, I got bitten," Buffy said.

"Before or after?" Zoe asked as she nodded toward Savannah.

"After," Savannah said. "I'm not a werewolf. Though I might ask mom to do it when I'm older and know enough to make an informed decision."

"So?" Zoe said. "Why don't we play a little more chase-and-pounce?"

"If we play chase-and-pounce again, you're not going to like how it ends. When a werewolf chases, the wolf expects a kill. One frustrated hunt it can handle. Not two," Buffy said.

"Unless the prey can't be killed."

"You can be killed we both know that," Buffy said.

"Depends do you have enough strength in your jaws to decapitate me?"

"Maybe," Buffy said.

She threw back her head and laughed. "Touché. As tempting as a chase would be, it clearly won't arouse the kind of frustration I'd care to relieve. I'll surrender my forfeit, then. Tell me more about this letter, and I'll see what I can remember."

So, Buffy did, leaving out how they got the letter, how they opened the portal, how they were still in possession of the letter, and focusing instead on the results and what information knew and had gleaned about it.

After Buffy finished, Zoe leaned back and closed her eyes. "The From Hell letter? I know I should remember more but…" She looked at Buffy and Savannah and shook her head. "Remembering a job, I did eighty years ago is no different than asking a hundred-year-old human to remember a work assignment he undertook at twenty. The letter was historically significant, yes, but the circumstances surrounding the theft were obviously mundane enough that I can barely remember anything more than that I did do this job."

"There was a spell cast on the original location. Do you remember that?" Savannah said.

She nodded. "A spell to keep the letter—all the letters—from being stolen by any living being. Presumably someone on the police force was a sorcerer and cast the spell to protect them. That's why the buyer hired me."

"This buyer … do you remember who it was?" Buffy asked.

"Of course. He is—or was—a regular customer of mine."

When she didn't continue, Buffy said, "Can you provide a name?"

She met Buffy's gaze. "I'd rather you two did, and I can confirm or deny."

"And we'd rather you—" Savannah said.

"His grandson continues to be a customer of mine, and I don't babble about my clients, past or present, unless there is a very good reason. Granted, a zombie-spewing portal is indeed a good reason, but if you took that letter, as you claim, then you already know the grandson's name."

"Patrick Shanahan," Buffy said.

Zoe nodded. "The original purchaser was his grandfather, Theodore."

"Did Shanahan commission the theft himself?" Savannah asked.

"I presume so…"

"But you don't remember," Buffy said as Zoe shook her head. "Do you remember whether your client wanted this letter specifically? Or just something from the Ripper files?"

"I believe any … no, maybe it was …" A sharp shake of her head. "Something snagged there, but it's not coming free."

Savannah made a step forward and Buffy made a move to pretend to hold her daughter back.

"Ooh feisty isn't she," Zoe said. "She's going to be a handful when she gets older. I have no reason to block you. You've just informed me that my city has an open dimensional portal, leaking zombies. I'm used to the Hellmouth, but with Sunnydale being the active one, well let's just say I would prefer it to stay that way and see this portal closed."

Buffy nodded and gave her Dawn's cell number telling her to call.

"So, I leave with a phone number," she said. "Not bad, but it would be nice to have a name attached."

When neither Buffy nor Savannah responded, she laughed and patted Buffy's arm.

"No matter. A smaller challenge before the big one, and something to discuss next time."

Buffy turned to Savannah and smiled. "Not bad for your first vampire. And I'm impressed you managed to stay caught up and then even thought on your feet about trying to cut her off. Maybe I was wrong about trying to keep you out of this, trying to protect you from this till you were older."

"It's okay, mom. I understand why you did," Savannah said. "You want me to have a normal teenage life, unlike the one you had when you were my age, or as normal as I can get living in a house full of werewolves."

Buffy smiled and then laughed as she draped an arm around her daughter.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Jeremy had struck out with Robert, leaving messages for him, but having heard nothing back. Dawn's research had yet to reveal anything. But when your over two hundred years old sometimes things don't pop out at you right away. Especially if it's in a memory that needs a push to come to the front.

The next morning, they headed straight to the airport to pick up Antonio and Nick, the two remaining members of the Pack.

At six, the Pack was at its lowest recorded size. Though every member of the Pack considered Savannah a member also just as they had Buffy before she been bitten. But of the actual pack there were only six werewolves left. Used to be the Pack was comprised of hereditary wolves. But as time went on the hereditary wolves began to thin out.

The problem was that, until Clay and Dawn, no one in the Pack, except Buffy, had showed any inclination to procreate. Antonio was content with one son—Nick—as Jeremy was with Clay. As for Nick, no one expected him to embrace fatherhood anytime soon, if ever.

The other method of increasing Pack ranks was assimilation—taking in mutts who wished to join after they proved themselves capable of following Pack Law. But very few mutts agreed with Jeremy's rule of not hunting humans. Which was why the Pack never grew that way either.

Buffy was the first to spot Nick and Antonio, and she followed by Savannah raced into their arms as Dawn came behind at a fast waddle. Bear hugs, kisses and backslaps ensued.

Normally, Nick would have swept Dawn off her feet and kissed her in a way that wasn't exactly fraternal. Today, though, he stopped short, and settled for a hug and a smack on the lips.

"Am I getting too big to pick up?" Dawn said.

Nick smiled. "No, I'm just being careful what I do to a pregnant lady in public." He leaned down to Dawn's ear. "Wait until later, and I'll make up for it."

"I heard that," Clay said.

Nick grinned. "Of course, you did. And you can see it too, if you want. Maybe learn something."

"Why don't you go play with Buffy," Clay said.

"And how many times have I said I'm married," Buffy said as she glared at Clay.

Nick turned and wrapped his arms around Buffy pulling her into a bear hug, lifting her off the ground and kissed her much more deeply than he had Dawn.

Buffy put her hands on his stubble-covered cheeks. "Couldn't find time to shave?" she teased.

"I'm growing a beard." He tilted his head and posed. "What do you think?"

"Sexy. The gray adds a nice touch of sophistication," Buffy said.

"Gray?" His hand shot to his cheek.

Behind Buffy, Antonio laughed, and then caught her up in a hug that lifted her once again off the ground. "You realize he's going to spend the rest of the day in front of the mirror looking for that gray?"

"Serves him right to forget I'm married to Rei," Buffy said.

"Buffy, have you forgotten that's not for a few more years," Dawn said as Buffy glared at her. "Besides it wouldn't be the first time." She looked at her niece.

Buffy sighed; she knew Dawn was right. She had been unfaithful. But she had also rationalized it with the fact that Rei would not want her pining for her for two hundred years till they returned to their original time.

Nick turned to Clay.

"No," Clay said. "You're not borrowing my razor. You grew it, you get rid of it."

"Troublemaker," Antonio murmured to Buffy who laughed.

"Hey Uncle Antonio," Savannah said

"Hello, Savannah," Antonio said as he hugged her and kissed her on the cheek. "You've grown, haven't you?"

Buffy laughed. "At the rate she's growing I expect she will need new clothes by Christmas."

"Mom!" Savannah said as she blushed with embarrassment.

Antonio turned back to Dawn. "You look more beautiful every time I see you," he said. "Pregnancy suits you."

Dawn made a face. "I'm huge. Getting bigger by the hour."

"You're pregnant. You're not supposed to be getting smaller. So, I hear you have a little adventure for us."