Chapter Six—Hunters, Aren't We All?
"Where have you been?"
Warren flinched at the icy tone of Notty's voice. For someone representing the limp-wristed English, Notty seemed determined to crush every stereotype. Especially any making them out to be effeminate. "I... err... Anya needed me for a bit longer to help her follow up on a lead-"
Notty grabbed his shirt and shoved him. With deadly certitude, he ground out, "If I find out that something has happened to Kennedy while you were out having sex, I'm going to beat you to death with an antique mace that I have hanging on the wall over there. Understand?"
Warren gulped and hurriedly nodded. He tried again, "Look, Notty, it's not like that. You can't blame me because Jeff Chaney grabbed Kennedy. Besides, Anya knew one of the demons. He called her Anyanka. Man, that was weird."
Notty was staring at him with an expression of blinding rage on his face. What did I say, Warren wondered. Then he knew. He'd mentioned Jeff Chaney. Damn, I should have said something about him earlier. It was just after Veruca had gotten ripped a new one; Warren hadn't been eager to attract Notty's wrath his way. But it was here now. In spades.
Warren watched, frozen as Notty took a step towards him, eyes aflame. Just then the phone rang. Calmly, as if he wasn't considering killing Warren, Notty asked, "Would you mind answering that, Andrew. I need to have a little chat with Warren." He took a step towards Warren.
Behind them, Andrew picked up the phone. "The Watcher's Lair."
Warren saw Notty wince at Andrew's phone greeting. Then his attention was focused once more upon Warren. Notty looked at him as if he were trying to figure out where to start hurting him.
"Wait, what's going on, Veruca?"
Notty took another step forward. He took a pair of gloves out of his pocket and began to put them on. Warren felt more afraid than when he had faced that big demon on Halloween.
"You found a witch? That's so cool!"
Notty finished closing the distance between them. He stared into Warren's eyes from a distance of inches.
"You want to speak to Notty? Actually, now's not a good time."
Slowly, he gathered Warren's shirt collar into his hands.
"Okay, but I warned you."
Andrew turned towards the two other men. "Notty, it's Veruca. She says she's found Kennedy."
With alacrity, Notty released Warren. Warren could feel beads of sweat pouring down his face. Thank God, he thought. Thank God.
"Veruca, where is she?"
"Do you trust this girl?"
"I see. Get back to your apartment, it's almost sundown. And, Veruca? Good job."
With that, he turned to Andrew and Warren. "Grab your things. I have an address where they're holding Kennedy. We're going to take care of this."
Timidly, Andrew raised his hand. "What are we going to do?"
With his gaunt features, Notty's smile looked almost like a corpse's, as if it were a harbinger of things to come. "We're going to kill them, Andrew. Now come along."
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Veruca ran up from her car to her apartment. Hurriedly, she closed and locked the door, then headed for the living room. She was just in time. Getting the supplies to cast that spell had taken longer than she'd expected. They'd barely finished with enough time for Veruca to get home before she changed. So she had called Notty from Tara's room, then headed back to the apartment. At least they'd managed to locate Kennedy. Now Notty and the two dweebs could ride in and rescue her.
As she shimmied out of her jeans, Veruca actually pitied whoever had taken Kennedy. Earlier, she when she had told Notty about Sarah, she'd feared for a moment that he was coming after her. Even the wolf inside her felt frightened. His apology afterwards had taken her by surprise, all the more so since it was sincere.
God, I hope Tara was right, Veruca thought as she got into the cage and carefully spun the combination lock. Please let her be right.
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Kennedy stared at the vampire. While one side of her brain, the cold, logical, analytical side, said, "You're dead. Just relax." The other side of her brain, the passionate, animalistic side, screamed, "Fuck you! I don't want to die!" Kennedy redoubled her struggles against her bonds. Was there a little give in the tape? Straining and struggling, she worked on freeing herself, even as the vampire, stopped and stared, obviously puzzled.
"You know, I'd almost think this was a trap, but I was pretty careful when I walked up to make sure nobody was around, especially those soldier types. You don't get to be a hundred and fifteen without taking precautions. So, how did you get left like this, little girl? Am I just lucky?"
Kennedy couldn't say anything, which was just as well. Somehow she doubted that the vampire would have taken kindly to her telling him he could go fuck himself. She definitely felt a slight give in the tape. She would probably be free in a few minutes. Unfortunately, she probably didn't have a few minutes.
The vampire's yellow eyes glowed brighter as it drew nearer. It was just about to kneel down onto the mattress with Kennedy, when they both heard a sound of a car door slamming. With an exaggerated, "Shhh!" he put his finger to his lips and stepped back just inside the bathroom.
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Jeff headed into the warehouse. He hadn't intended to be gone so long, all night and all of the next day as well. It was just that hot little redhead had been so much fun. Hopefully, Kennedy hadn't escaped or gotten killed. Guiltily, he remembered that the warehouse was only supposed to be a temporary choice until he had a chance to rent a house. Places where vampires could enter uninvited were not exactly primo real estate in Sunnydale. Mostly because that could get you killed. Of course, the worst that could happen would be that he was out the chance at the ransom. Although, come to think of it, that would suck royally.
Jeff went in the warehouse and and immediately noticed the light to the office was off. He didn't like that. Jeff mostly felt his way towards the offices. Once there, he went inside and turned on the light. Brightness flooded the room. He noted Kennedy was still laying on the mattress. She was making a lot of grunting noises. Where the fuck was Sarah? That stupid, fuckin' bitch, he thought angrily. She'd split, leaving him to deal with everything alone. Oh well, that makes one less body to have to get rid of, he decided after a moment's thought. And why was Kennedy still making noises?
Walking over to the mattress, he stared down at the girl. "Need to pee again, slut? Or maybe you're just lonely enough to want a real man? That it, bitch?" She stilled and he saw that crazy, predator's look appear again in her eyes. Involuntarily, Jeff shivered. Weird bitch.
He was just about to taunt her a second time, when he heard a sound behind him. He had just started to turn when a hand came across his face and yanked his head to the side, exposing the line of his neck. Sharp fangs bit into his throat. Jeff struggled uselessly as he felt his blood being drained away. I can't die, he thought desperately. I'm about to be rich. He felt cold and his heart began struggling to beat. The last sounds he heard right before everything went dark were his heart beating desperately to keep him alive and the greedy sucking sounds of the thing killing him. So much for being rich, he thought in disgust.
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Kennedy watched with cold satisfaction as Jeff's struggles finally ceased. The vampire continued to suck long after the body was still, as if trying to get every last drop. It was both disgusting and fascinating in a totally creepy kind of way. It was also her cue to get loose. Kennedy struggled so hard against the tape that she felt like her heart was going to explode from the exertion. Then the tape holding her arms ripped all at once, with a sound like cloth tearing. It was loud in the quiet office and brought the vampire's head up.
He took one look at Kennedy with her arms free and dropped Jeff's body on the floor. He sprang onto Kennedy, who in the meantime, had managed to get her hands completely free, yanking out her gag. She barely caught the vampire across the throat as it lunged at her, trying to drive its fangs into her throat. "Get off me!" she rasped, her throat raw from lack of liquid.
Bloody spittle dripped into her face, completely grossing her out. Above her, the vampire snarled, "You can't stop me from drinking you! I want-"
Whatever he was about to say was lost as Kennedy punched him in the jaw, using every ounce of strength in her body. His jaw wasn't quite broken, but he was temporarily pushed back. Unfortunately, he immediately jumped her again. If she could just get her legs free, she would be okay, but they still were completely wrapped up in tape and fastened to the wall by the chain looped through those same layers of tape. Kennedy hit the vampire over and over, but couldn't get leverage to get away from it. Tirelessly, it continued to try to eat her. Finally, after struggling for several minutes, the vampire got the upper hand.
Kennedy had tried to hit it yet again, but this time instead of taking the hit, the vampire ducked aside from it, and when her fist went past its chin, it pinned her arm over her head. Held like that, she couldn't get leverage to free herself as the vampire bit into her shoulder. It sucked greedily at her for a moment. Then, lifting its head, its golden stare bore into Kennedy's eyes. "You're the Slayer. You taste of power and death. I'll be invincible after I drain you dry."
Kennedy tried to think of something witty to say, but was fresh out. She managed to wiggle her other arm loose and grab a handful of hair. But the vampire's struggles ripped it loose from its scalp. Then the vampire's fangs pierced into her throat!
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Cain grinned in triumph as he picked the lock. Everything was going perfectly. All of the wolf's friends had disappeared, leaving her alone. Now all he had to do was go in, drug her, then take her back to the location out in the woods for a disposal site. He'd even rigged lights out there, using a portable generator. All of the comforts of home, he thought in amusement.
Opening the door, Cain stepped inside, listening carefully. He could hear the faint banging sounds of the wolf in the cage in the nearby bedroom. Excellent. Hefting the tranquilizer rifle, he walked over to the bedroom door and opened it. With pleasure, he noted the occupied cage, holding one Grade A werewolf.
"Aren't you just the most beautiful thing," he purred as he walked over to the cage. He didn't flinch as the werewolf threw itself against the bars. "Sorry, but you aren't going to be getting out of that thing just yet. Not until you're no longer dangerous that is."
Cain carefully aimed the tranquilizer rifle at the she-wolf and fired. It whined as the dart hit. It took two or three staggering steps, then fell over. With immense satisfaction, Cain grabbed the bolt cutters he'd brought and snapped off the lock.
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Notty raced his car as fast as it would go down the streets of Sunnydale. He glanced at the speedometer, absently noting he'd broken the one hundred and sixty kilometers per hour line, or as the Yanks put it, one hundred miles per hour.
"Oh my God, we're going to die!" Andrew shrieked nearly in his ear as he sat in the back seat behind Notty. He hugged himself. "This is sooo cooool!"
Notty rolled his eyes. It seemed an appropriate response to Andrew's imbecility. On the other hand, Warren in the seat next to him was going to get something a bit more... instructive, when time allowed. With great control, he asked, "What's the next turn, Warren?"
Warren gave him a nervous glance, then checked the instructions they'd gotten off the net for the warehouse where they believed Kennedy was being held. "Right at the next light. Then five blocks down on the left."
"Excellent. Be ready to use that taser of yours as soon as we stop. Do not hesitate to use it on anyone that isn't Kennedy."
Warren nodded jerkily.
"Oh, and Warren?"
"Yes?"
"Make sure it doesn't kill them. I want the pleasure of that particular task myself." Notty smiled with satisfaction as Warren looked even more scared. You don't know what scared is, boy, he thought. But you will soon enough.
Sighting the stoplight, Notty noted it was red, then pressed hard on the brake, while simultaneously spinning the wheel. The BMW went into a four wheel drift around the corner. Notty applied gas carefully, and the car straightened back out, not even losing half its speed. He carefully counted blocks as they came up. Then he saw the warehouse that had to be the one in which Kennedy was being held. He slammed down hard on the brakes, then tapped them with ever increasing lightness as the car's velocity slowed. The last thing he needed was to make so much noise that the kidnappers heard him coming.
He killed the engine shy of the warehouse and with the ignition on, coasted into a stop. "Don't slam your doors closed when you get out," he warned, even though he had already cautioned Warren and Andrew once before.
"Yes, Notty."
"Sure thing."
Then they were stopped. Getting out quickly, Notty didn't wait for the others, although he noted that Warren at least was keeping pace with him. He stepped up to the door of the warehouse, listening carefully. That's when he heard it, the faint sounds of a scuffle. Notty headed inside...
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Andrew crowded along behind Warren as they followed Notty into the warehouse. It's just like when Luke rescued Princess Leia, he thought. This is our Death Star. He almost fell in over something in the dark, but managed to stay upright by grabbing Warren, who shook him off almost immediately. "Sorry," he whispered, then shut up as Notty shushed him. Luke Skywalker never has problems like this, Andrew thought.
Andrew could see the lights on up ahead. Notty was now running towards them with Warren right behind him. Andrew kept up as best he could. The other two burst in through the door seconds ahead of him. As Andrew entered, he saw Warren already firing on a vampire who was trying to eat Kennedy.
The now familiar blast of white lightning was far less powerful than Andrew remembered, although it did drive the vampire off of Kennedy. She spasmed along with the vampire, making him realize that since it was biting her, she'd gotten nearly the same blast it had. Then the vampire was up and on them!
It grabbed Warren and tossed him right out the door into the darkened warehouse. Andrew heard his blaster go flying off into the dark. Then Notty was slammed into the wall as he tried to stake it. He landed badly and his head hit the unpainted drywall with an audible thud, leaving him stunned. Then the vampire turned to Andrew.
Andrew felt sick with fear. It was all he could do not to drop to his knees and vomit. The vampire looked like something from a horror movie, like maybe Nosferatu. Thinking about the movie helped for almost a second, then the fear was back, stronger than ever. Andrew felt urine running down his leg. Then with a scream of terror, he threw himself at the surprised vampire, bowling it over.
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Kennedy was tearing at the tape binding her legs when Andrew's scream made her stop and stare. He's insane, she thought. But he had taken the vampire down temporarily. Kennedy ripped the last of the tape free and stood up. Removing the tape had also freed her from the chain. Racing to where the vampire and Andrew wrestled, with Andrew still screaming at the top of his lungs and the vampire seemingly trying to get him to shut up and simultaneously wrestle him into submission, Kennedy kicked the vampire in the head as hard as she could.
Like an NFL kicker teeing off on a kickoff, Kennedy's foot slammed into the vampire's skull with incredible force. So much force, that there was an audible snap as its neck broke, then its body turned to dust as the force of the kick severed its spinal column. Luckily, Kennedy was still wearing the same boots from when she was captured, which just happened to be her favorite steel-toed pair. Her foot would be bruised, but not broken.
Kennedy became aware of blessed silence in the office as Andrew stopped screaming. Tentatively, she touched her throat wound, wincing at how much it hurt to do that. It hadn't even hurt until now, she thought. As if to make up for it, it began throbbing in time to her heartbeat.
Kennedy turned to where Notty had been thrown against the wall, to find him getting to his feet. His eyes were full of some unreadable emotion as he took in her appearance. He carefully noted, "I see the bruises and the vampire bites. Any other wounds?"
Kennedy shook her head. "No, that's it. I just need to pee badly. Is Warren all..."
Just then, Warren burst into the room, waving his blaster wildly. "Where is he? I'm going to kill that sonuvabitch!"
Kennedy dryly joked, "You're too late unless you want to dustbuster him."
Warren sagged against the door frame. "He's dead then?"
Kennedy nodded. She noted the intense look of disfavor that Notty gave Warren before wiping his expression blank when he saw her look. "Yep, dead and dusted. Or dusted and dead. Anyway, no more vamp."
Notty approached and checked her wound. "And your kidnappers?"
Kennedy winced as his gentle touch hurt. "The one over there, Jeff, is dead via vampire. The other one, Sarah, split with my credit card."
Notty pressed his handkerchief to Kennedy's neck. "Warren, go to the car and get the first aid kit." He waited for Warren to leave, before addressing Kennedy again, "You'll want to report that stolen card first thing. With any luck, they'll catch her red-handed with it and she'll see jail time."
Kennedy hesitated, remembering the desperation of the blonde girl. She shook her head. "I'll call it in late tomorrow." At Notty incredulous look, she shrugged. "She cut the tape holding my arms some before she left, or I wouldn't have gotten loose as much as I did, and would have died here. You wanna tell me what's up with you and Warren?"
Notty gave her a warning look, then nodded at Andrew. Kennedy doubted that Andrew was in any shape to hear them, but she could see his point. Kneeling down next to where Andrew huddled on the floor, she asked him, "You okay, Andrew?"
He looked up at her, tear tracks on his face. "I peed my pants."
Kennedy carefully didn't laugh or even smile. With all seriousness, she said, "I noticed. But you also distracted the vampire long enough for me to get free. That was an incredibly brave thing you did."
Andrew looked at her. "It was?"
Kennedy nodded. "Totally brave. Just like Luke Skywalker."
Andrew's look shifted down toward his feet. "Luke never peed his pants."
"So? He's never faced a vampire before. Plus he's got the whole Jedi powers thing going. You're just a normal guy who's got more guts than brains."
Andrew looked like he was trying to figure out if that was a compliment when Kennedy got back up. "I really have to pee now." With that, she stepped into the bathroom.
Quickly, Kennedy pulled her pants down, carefully not thinking about what had happened the last time she was in the bathroom. Pressure relieved, she flushed, then washed her hands. Only after that did she drink several handfuls of water. Feeling better, she stepped back into the room.
"...peed your pants? Again?" Warren said, not exactly scorn in his voice. It was more as if he couldn't believe what had happened.
Kennedy saw Notty about to bust loose and tear Warren's head off, so she intervened. "Leave him alone, Warren. He's the only one who was able to take down the vampire. And thanks for saving my life again, by the way. Andrew, why don't you go into the bathroom and rinse your pants off, okay?"
Andrew quickly got to his feet and headed that way, closing the door behind him. Then it was her turn. Patiently, Kennedy bore Notty's first aid treatment, only hissing as he cleaned and disinfected her various scrapes and bites. Finally, after she was completely bandaged up, they were ready to go. Kennedy let Warren and Andrew get ahead of her. Notty hung back with her as they slowly strolled to the car.
"So, what's your problem with Warren."
Notty's mouth thinned. "He knew that Jeff Chaney was a shady character. He didn't warn you about him."
Kennedy winced. That wasn't good. "Anything else?"
"Two things. I sent Warren and Anya to talk to that snitch. He and Anya had sex before before coming back. Lastly, he's spending a great deal of money on these toys of his."
Kennedy stopped walking. "How much?"
Notty shook his head. "I can't be sure. I'm no expert. But it has to be several thousand, perhaps as much as a hundred thousand. Where is he getting his money?"
Good question, she thought. "What are you going to do?"
Notty's eyes gleamed. "I am going to discuss the situation with him."
Kennedy tried not to look worried. That was what Notty had called it when he had beaten her the one and only time he'd ever gotten physical with her. "Notty, try to remember that he isn't a bad guy. He's trying right now. And messing up, I admit. But remember what he did on Halloween?"
Notty looked unimpressed, then grunted. "Fine. Your argument just kept our discussion from getting physical. I hope Mr. Mears thanks you some day."
Kennedy grinned. "I would just settle for him not leering at me." Companionably, the two of them slowly walked the rest of the way to Notty's BMW.
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As Kennedy unlocked her door, she groaned. The two bites, while healing, still hurt like a sonuvabitch and itched, too! Talk about a bad combination, she thought. Kennedy started to head to her room to take a shower then go to bed, when she stopped. I had better check on Veruca, she thought tiredly. With that, she walked over to Veruca's room and went in.
"Mother fucker!" Kennedy exclaimed on seeing the empty cage. Damn that girl, she thought, completely furious. How many chances does she think I'm going to give her? Then Kennedy stopped, arrested by the sight of the lock that was lying on the carpet. The lock that had clearly been cut off the cage.
She walked over and picked it up. Yep, she thought, it had been cut off. Kennedy carefully checked the rest of the room. She found another clue in the cage itself. Lying under a blanket that Veruca had put in for comfort, there was something that looked like a small hypodermic needle. With growing dread, Kennedy checked the rest of the room, but didn't find anything else.
She immediately called Notty. "Notty? It's Kennedy."
"What's going on, Kennedy? Is something wrong? How is your neck?"
Impatiently, Kennedy said, "Look, I'm fine. But Veruca's missing-" Kennedy held the phone away from her ear as a stream of curses rang from it. Wow, she thought in admiration, who knew that there even existed that many curse words? After a minute or so, Notty ran down and she continued, "That's how I felt at first, too. But I don't think she left voluntarily. The lock on her cage has been cut. Like with bolt cutters. And I found a needle in her cage, like she got shot with a tranquilizer dart or something. What do you think?"
Notty's voice was calm, but Kennedy could hear the seriousness in his tone. "Kennedy, there are myriad uses for the pelt of a werewolf. As well as for its blood and other organs. They can fetch up to thirty or even forty thousand dollars. There are a few hunters who legitimately hunt werewolves here in the States, keeping them from going on killing sprees. It's possible that Veruca ran afoul of one of them."
Kennedy was indignant. "But she's not on a killing spree. She was in a cage in her apartment. So at the minimum, it's breaking and entering, along with kidnapping."
"That isn't how they see it. To them, Veruca is an animal."
Kennedy could hear something in Notty's voice. "Tell me," she commanded.
"You have at best, a couple of hours to find Veruca. Otherwise, she's going to be dead."
Kennedy was horrified. "What am I going to do? How can I find her?"
"I have a suggestion. We found you because of that girl you know, Tara, casting a location spell. If you try her, you'll need to take something that belongs to Veruca."
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Tiredness forgotten, Kennedy raced across campus. Please, please, please, be home, she begged as she headed towards Mercer Hall. Hitting the doors, Kennedy accidentally embedded them back into the walls behind them. Damn, she thought, better get lost before someone notices that.
Kennedy headed to the second floor, then once there, towards room 237. She forced herself to knock on the door lightly, not wanting any more door breakage. The door opened.
Tara's face brightened as she looked at Kennedy, then dimmed at the sight of the bandages she wore. "A-a-re you o-o-okay?"
Kennedy pushed past Tara into her room. "I'm fine. Thanks for saving my life, Tara."
"Y-y-your l-life? You were in d-d-danger?" The girl looked worried for her. It made Kennedy feel warm.
She smiled at Tara. Then got serious once more. "Notty told me how you found me. Can you do it again?"
Tara looked wary. "I-I-I can, but I'm really t-t-tired. I-i-is it important?"
"Veruca? That girl who came to see you? She's been kidnapped, too. They're going to kill her in the next hour or so, unless we find her."
Tara's eyes grew wide, but she didn't ask any questions. She took the shirt that Kennedy carried and walked over to a small shrine. To Kennedy, it looked like the real deal. She lighted several candles, then entered a meditative state, closing her eyes. After a moment, she opened them again, then lit a small brazier. She placed various herbs and other materials into the brazier, a look of concentration on her face. A pungently fragrant smoke swirled about her face.
She intoned, "Diana, Goddess of the Hunt, hear my plea. Lend me your skill, find for me my prey. I beseech you, Diana. I beseech you, Diana. I beseech you, Diana. Thrice have I called. Thrice is my pledge to the ancient powers. By the power of three, Diana, answer my call."
Tara got up from her seat and walked in what looked almost like a daze to a large map of Sunnydale that appeared to have been hastily mounted on one of the walls of her room. She closed her eyes and stabbed her finger at the map. Opening them, Tara took a push pin and stuck it in where her finger was.
"I thank you Diana, Goddess of the Hunt. I thank you for your skill. I thank you for your aid. I honor you and the ancient powers of the world." With that, Tara relaxed, then almost collapsed, only Kennedy's quick move keeping her upright. Kennedy half carried, half helped, Tara over to her bed, laying her onto the covers there.
"Are you okay, Tara?"
Dazedly, the girl looked up at Kennedy. "T-that's my line." Tara wore an odd look as she gazed up at Kennedy. Self-consciously, Kennedy lowered her eyes. There wasn't any doubt in her mind that Tara was in the club. A card-carrying lesbian. And one that appeared to find Kennedy very attractive. Embarrassingly, the look she wore was almost worshipful.
Kennedy walked over to the map. She knew the location. It was in a small wooded area just outside the UC Sunnydale campus to the north. Kennedy turned to Tara, who was still staring at her through half-closed eyes. Making a quick decision, Kennedy strode over to Tara and bent down, giving her a thorough kiss, though with minimal tongue. Wow, she thought, that was nice.
"Thanks for the spell, Tara. I'll see you tomorrow." Without a backward glance, Kennedy strode from the room.
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Tara lay on the comforter covering her bed. Dazed, she touched her lips. The kiss had been... amazing. It had been the last thing she'd expected. And luckily or unluckily, Tara had been too exhausted from casting two powerful spells to flinch away from, or be embarrassed by, the kiss. Even now, all she could think about was that she wished Kennedy would kiss her again.
I'm definitely loopy, she thought. But Kennedy's kissed me. She wondered if that meant Kennedy liked her, or if she was just grateful for her help. As she drifted off to sleep, Tara hoped that Kennedy found her friend.
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Kennedy ran as fast as she could towards the location on the map. For the second time in the last two days, she contemplated killing a person. With grim fatalism, she recognized that was exactly what was going to happen if Veruca was dead. She would kill the hunter as well. Am I one of those 'disturbed' Slayers, she wondered, the kind that the Slayer's Handbook warned about?
Kennedy didn't feel insane, or disturbed, or anything like crazy. She was just immensely pissed off that there were so many cruel bastards in the world. So what was one less person in the world in the grand scheme of things? she thought.
Kennedy could hear sounds as she approached the site. The roaring of a generator came to her sensitive ears. She could already see lights. Not even slowing down, Kennedy hit the clearing.
She saw a man wielding a bloody knife squatting over a skinned corpse. Kennedy wanted to vomit, but instead, she tore through the intervening space, hitting the man with bone-crunching force. As he was knocked through the air away from her, Kennedy looked down at the corpse in front of her. It had been completely skinned and disemboweled, its organs gathered in several nearby glass jars sitting on the ground.
Oh God, Veruca, I'm so sorry, Kennedy thought, staring at the corpse of her friend. She'd failed her. Kennedy should never have dismissed her concerns when Veruca had been worried that she was being followed. Even werewolves are the prey of somebody. Which reminded Kennedy that the somebody who had killed Veruca was still alive.
Striding over to where the man was trying to get to his feet, Kennedy grabbed him and slammed him into a tree. With one hand, she lifted him off his toes, strangling him. She heard the noises he was making and wondered what he was trying to say.
"Yuurfrnnnndisssndddaddd!"
Wait, what was that? Kennedy released the man, allowing him to collapse to the ground. Looming over him, Kennedy asked in a threatening tone, "What did you just say?"
He gasped out, "Your friend isn't dead."
Kennedy hooked a thumb towards the corpse in the center of the clearing. "What do you call that?"
The man hesitated. "That's a different wolf. It's not your friend."
Kennedy grabbed the man and effortlessly hauled him to his feet. "Where is she?"
Lookng even more scared, the man pointed at the pickup truck on the other side of the clearing. Dragging him along, Kennedy saw the cage with its werewolf occupant about the same time the man tried to make a break for it. Kennedy cuffed him hard, knocking him to the ground. "Stay here, you fucker. You move, I gut you."
Without waiting for an acknowledgment, Kennedy checked out Veruca. The werewolf appeared to be just asleep. Her breathing was deep and even. Thank you, God, Kennedy thought.
Walking back over to the man, Kennedy grabbed him and dragged him back to the corpse. "Who is this?"
Hurriedly, the man answered, "Nobody. He's just some drifter who's been killing cattle up in Nevada."
Kennedy frowned. "Drifter, huh?" She looked the scene over carefully, forcing herself to look at the corpse. Then she saw it. There was a stack of clothes over by the jars. Kennedy checked the clothes. They appeared neat and clean, of the kind worn by a million people her age. Then she felt something solid in the pocket of the blue jeans. It was a wallet.
Kennedy carefully opened the wallet and looked at the driver's license. "Benjamin Rhodes, twenty-six, of Las Vegas, Nevada. So he's a killer?"
The man nodded. "Exactly. He's been killing all kinds of animals. It was just a matter of time until he graduated to people."
Kennedy stopped indecisive. Her first killing rage had dwindled, now that she knew Veruca was alive. She couldn't disprove the hunter. Absently, she leafed through the wallet. There were several pictures, including him with a young woman and two kids. There was even a library card. It just didn't look like the wallet of a man who ran around killing stuff three nights a month.
Kennedy slowly looked back at the hunter. "I don't believe you." And she didn't. He was lying. Then she saw the look on his face as if he were trying to come up with another story. "Don't bother. This guy looks like a normal joe. Wife, kids, nine to five job. Hell, he's even got a library card. Not exactly a killer."
The man's eyes gleamed. He hissed, "They're all killers. They all deserve to die. Who cares about them. I mean they're just animals. Monstrous animals, but just animals in the end. If I have to kill them to save the person who they were, that's a good thing."
Kennedy felt sick to her stomach listening to him. He'd killed this guy in cold blood. Who knows how careful Ben had been. Careful enough that he was still married with two kids. A good guy who hadn't done anything except be something that someone else found offensive. Someone who had hunted him down and killed him. "I can't let you go."
Craftily, he stared back at her. "You can't prove anything. The police won't even hold me. They won't be able to prove a thing."
Kennedy remembered her conversations with Notty. If a werewolf died in wolf form, it stayed in wolf form. There wouldn't be any evidence the hunter had killed Benjamin Rhodes. As far as the law was concerned, the hunter had killed some kind of animal. That was even assuming if they would do that much. Kennedy remembered Notty's lectures about the corrupt and incompetent Sunnydale police force. So she had to make a decision.
Kennedy walked over to the hunter and grabbing his head, snapped his neck. He had a look of complete surprise on his face as he keeled over. Kennedy made it three steps before she dropped to her knees and vomited. Dry heaves racked her body since she had nothing to bring up, not having eaten in two days. Tears poured down her face as she considered what she'd done. I killed him, Kennedy thought. I cold-bloodedly killed him.
What was she going to do? First things first. Kennedy dug into the pocket of the hunter's pants for his keys. She grabbed the wallet from where it had fallen and tucked it into her pocket. Walking over to the truck, Kennedy got in and started it. She drove slowly and carefully back towards her apartment. Thank God, she'd finally a point where she could at least steer a straight line and not press down to hard on either the gas or the brake. Or rather thank Veruca, Kennedy thought absently.
Parking out front, Kennedy got out and went to the back. The lock on the cage she opened with one of the keys on the truck's keyring. Kennedy carefully picked up Veruca and carried her back to the apartment. Once inside, she placed Veruca back in her cage, using the lock from the truck to lock the cage. Kennedy took the key from the keyring and placed it on the carpet near the cage.
Kennedy trudged back to the truck. She had to see Notty now. It had been one of the things drilled into her as part of her Slayer training. If there was ever an 'incident', you were supposed to immediately report it to your Watcher. They would take it from there. Shivering from reaction, Kennedy drove over to Notty's apartment.
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"And his body is over in the wooded area near campus? Was there a great deal of blood?"
Dazedly, Kennedy nodded. "From the butchered werewolf."
Notty nodded, a considering look on his face. As far as he was concerned, what Kennedy had done was nothing less than an act of pest control. While Slayers were prohibited from killing humans, that only really applied to those who weren't involved in the supernatural. From wizards to various other magic users, Slayers had had to kill innumerable humans in the past. It was only the Council in the past hundred years or so, as social change made it more and more difficult to control their charges, that had hemmed the Slayer in with so many rules and regulations.
For example, almost three quarters of the Slayer's Handbook had been written in the past fifty years. Notty had used it to train Kennedy with, but considered it not much more than a joke. Slayers who followed it religiously were... well, let's just say there was a reason most Slayers died within a year of being called. That Quentin Travers, a man Notty considered a hidebound dinosaur, was considering actually changing part of the Slayer's role by allowing her friends and a group to help her, was nothing less than a miracle. Especially since he had written the section less than twenty years ago that outlined exactly how a Slayer was supposed to be a solo hunter, without any back up beyond her Watcher.
Still, if even Quentin could change, maybe there was hope for the Council yet. That brought Notty back to how to deal with Kennedy. The girl was racked with guilt and was in no condition to be told not to worry about it. If he did say that to her, God knows what she might do to try to make up for her feelings of guilt. So he had to make her feel that what she had done had been weighed and a judgment had been arrived at. His thoughts were interrupted by her voice.
"Should I turn myself into the police?" Her voice was subdued, nothing of the vibrant girl that she was most of the time coming through.
"No, I want you to take the truck and leave it with the key in the ignition over near Willy's bar."
Kennedy's eyes widened. "But the bodies in the woods..."
"Low level demonic scavengers will take care of them. They'll be attracted to all that blood." Notty was deliberately being harsh.
"Notty, I can't..."
"You will do as you are told, girl. When you are done, report back here. I have to consult the Council."
A look of almost relief appeared in her eyes. "So, they'll decide what to do?"
Not a chance in hell, Notty thought. Aloud, he said, "Of course. I'll explain what happened. They may want you to testify or they may not. No matter what, there will be repercussions, Kennedy, you can count on that."
The girl nodded. Hesitantly, she left, giving Notty one last backward glance. After she was gone, he closed his eyes in pain for her lost innocence. Dear, dear Kennedy, I would have wished you could have been a child a little longer, Notty thought. Grief lay like old ashes on his soul, weighing him down and making him feel smudged and gray. Now he had to come up with some reasonable thing for the 'Council' to send.
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Kennedy did exactly what Notty had said to do. She left the truck in front of Willy's. She hadn't walked a block before someone got in and drove away. Trudging back to Notty's, Kennedy felt beyond exhausted. She had burned through so much adrenaline over the last two days. There had been tremendous highs and lows. Now, everything felt like a low, the world dark and wicked beyond the circle of light of each street lamp.
Kennedy knew she was part of that wickedness. She trashed her plans to go see Tara tomorrow. What was the point? In all likelihood, the Council would kill her, calling another Slayer in her place. Or perhaps she would be brought to England and 're-educated'. That was a particularly chilling thought. Perhaps losing whatever made her Kennedy. Still would it be any worse than being a murderer.
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Notty took one look at Kennedy as she walked into his apartment. In a disgusted tone, he snapped, "Go get cleaned up, Kennedy. Yes, use my shower. And when you're done, you'll eat what I put in front of you. Don't you dare argue with me. You belong to the Council and until they decide your fate, you'll take care of yourself with no excuses. Is that clear?"
She nodded and headed upstairs. Notty didn't like this new, passive Kennedy. She hadn't been this passive the day after he'd beaten her black and blue for being insubordinate. Still, when he'd told her that she belonged to the Council, there had been a momentary flash of fire in her eyes. It had been quickly quenched, but it still had been present. His Slayer was going to be fine, Notty thought in satisfaction. Now to deliver the pièce de résistance.
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Kennedy ate the last of the huge omelet that Notty had made her. It had to have over a dozen eggs in it, she thought. That, along with the dozen of so sausages and the eight pieces of toast with butter and jam on them, had filled her up. She was clean for the first time in two days. The hot water had done wonders for her. Now she waited in silence for the judgment of the Council.
Notty had received a fax while she was in the shower. He hadn't told her what was on it, but Kennedy was dreading finding out. Still, clean, fed, and comfortable, she couldn't bring herself to care too much about her fate. Then she became aware that Notty was about to speak.
He held the fax in his hands like it was poisonous. Notty wasn't too fond of the Council, calling them a bunch of useless bastards on more than one occasion. Still, he had consulted them on such a dire occasion, so Kennedy waited for hear their judgment.
He read:
To: Kennedy DaSilva, the Slayer
From: The Council of Watchers
Re: The events of November 7, 1999
After considering all evidence regarding the killing for which Kennedy DaSilva was responsible, the Council has decided to back her decision to take a life. While it is never an easy decision to kill a person, some people, through their actions, show themselves to be beyond redemption. This person, 'the Hunter', through his acts of indiscriminant slaughter, has placed himself beyond the bounds of normal social judgment. Additionally, he has aligned himself with the world of the supernatural. By doing so, he has surrendered his right to be judged by human law, placing himself in the purview of the Slayer. He has-
"You're lying."
Notty looked up, indignant. "How dare you-"
Kennedy sighed and gave him a pensive look. "Your heartbeat gives you away. Not even you are that good a liar, Notty. Plus, you can't seriously expect me to believe that the Council would have gotten back to you in a couple of hours. You've told me fifty times, at least, how slow they are to arrive at any decision, no matter how important or unimportant."
Notty sighed. "I did lie to you, Kennedy. I'm not sorry to have done so. You needed-"
"A swift kick in the ass to get me off my pity train. So that guy would be considered part of the supernatural world?"
Notty nodded. That, at least, he could irrefutably call the truth. "Exactly. What happened was incredibly difficult to deal with. That you did so, without hesitation, and with great personal cost to yourself, just shows how far you have come since the first day we met. Do you remember that day?"
Kennedy nodded fondly. "I told you to shove your books back up your..." She stopped, not wanting to go any further.
Notty nodded. "It was just before I gave your the first hiding of your rich, spoiled life."
Kennedy smiled. "I always wondered why you never hit me again."
Notty shrugged and said, "It would have been counter-productive. I set the tone of our relationship that day. I got your attention. It was up to me to earn your respect. There was little point in punishing you for mistakes when I could see you were trying. And those mistakes you made because you were just you, how could I punish you for that, when I wanted you to be that person? The kind of person who can make hard decisions and face the consequences." He gave her a look that would have come across as cool from anyone else, but from him was positively fond.
Kennedy felt warm at this evidence of how he felt about her. "I do respect you, you know?"
"I know you do, Kennedy. So please, listen to me when I say that you did the right thing. That why it hurts so much. It's the wrong thing that's easy and lets you sleep soundly at night. The right thing keeps you up at night and gives you nightmares."
"Well, okay, but I reserve the right to be angsty about this for a while longer." She was only half joking. Kennedy didn't doubt that she would have bad days as well as good days, dealing with the aftermath of killing a man.
"That is fine with me. I wouldn't expect anything else."
"Notty, there's something else I need to talk to you about."
"What is that, Kennedy?"
She hesitated. Well, in for a penny, in for a pound, Kennedy thought. "I've been having Slayer dreams recently."
Noty's gave sharpened. "What about?"
"I think of the Slayer that was here in town." Kennedy explained her dream of fighting the vampire and the portal opening behind it.
Notty nodded. "I heard rumors that Acathla had been found, activated, then somehow deactivated, thus saving the world. But no one wanted to talk about it. Now I can see why."
"Notty, that Slayer? She was really, really good. I mean, scary good. She could have kicked my ass easy. Hell, she wouldn't have had any problems with Spike. She'd have kicked his ass up one side and down another, Ring of Amara, or no Ring of Amara."
Notty nodded. "I think we are dealing with a Slayer that has been around at least three, and possibly four, years. Anyone lasting that long, would have to be simply amazing. But don't sell yourself short, Kennedy. You are very skilled. And you have been the Slayer less than six months. This other girl, I doubt she was all that skilled when she first started. After all, you killed your first vampire by stabbing it in the heart the first time. I can't tell you how many Potentials stab vampires in completely the wrong places. Why this one girl stabbed the vampire in the crotch. I can only imagine where her mind was."
They both burst out laughing. For Kennedy, it was a healing laughter, even it was tinged with the faintest flavor of hysteria. For Notty, it was one of the few genuine smiles or laughs she'd gotten from him in the last four years. As Kennedy sat there and laughed, she decided to spend the night on Notty's couch. The thought of sleep made her eyelids droop.
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Veruca opened her eyes. Ugh. She felt like warmed up cowshit. Even her head throbbed. It was weird. Usually after a night as the wolf, she felt pretty jazzed up, even if she spent it in a cage.
She reached up to open the combination lock. It wasn't there. Instead, a heavy duty Masterlock, the kind you open with a key, kept the cage closed. What the fuck? Veruca didn't see a key anywhere, either.
"Hey! Kennedy! Anyone! Get me out of here! I have to pee, really really bad!"
After a moment, Veruca thought she heard a door open. Then there was a quiet knock on her door. "Dammit, Kennedy, get in here!"
The door opened. Kennedy walked in. Veruca instantly knew something was wrong. Usually Kennedy walked like she was larger than life. Not right now, though. She looked like someone who had cancer of the puppy. She had two big bandages from what looked like bites on her neck and shoulder. Her eyes were still puffy and red from crying. Oh God, Veruca thought, what happened to her when she was kidnapped?
"Hey."
"Hey."
Kennedy walked over and picked up a key that Veruca hadn't noticed and opened the cage. Ignoring her nudity, Veruca raced into the bathroom. Peeing quickly, she flushed, then splashed her face. She threw on a robe, then headed back into her room. Kennedy was sitting on the edge of her bed. Veruca sat down next to her and put an arm around the girl.
"What's wrong, Ken?"
In a choked voice, the girl muttered, "Nothing."
"How did you get the bites? Did those bastards do something to you? Did they... touch you?"
Kennedy raised her head and gave Veruca a look that made her shiver. Great, she thought, I roused the Slayer at least. Then the fire in her eyes dimmed and she whispered, "That guy groped me a little. I still feel dirty about it. But he's dead. A vamp got him. Which is cool. Kept me from killing him. All I had to do was kill..."
Holy shit! Kennedy had killed somebody? Almost afraid to ask, Veruca still did. "Did you kill one of the kidnappers, Ken?"
In an odd, choked voice, Kennedy said, "You might say that."
"Were you angry at what they did?"
"I killed the guy who kidnapped you."
Veruca took her arm from around Kennedy and turned the girl to face her. "What did you just say?"
Kennedy met her eyes squarely. "I'm sorry I didn't believe you when you thought you were being followed. You were right. There was this werewolf hunter. He shot you with a tranquilizer dart and took you off into the woods. When I got back to the apartment, I saw that you were gone. I called Notty and he suggested going to Tara to see if she could locate you."
"Tara? The same girl who found you?"
Kennedy nodded. "Yes. She did find you out in the woods. I got there was quick as I could. The hunter was butchering a werewolf when I got there and..." Her voice trailed off.
"You thought it was me? Was that why you killed him?"
Kennedy woodenly shook her head. "No. I grabbed him. I was going to kill him. But he managed to tell me that you were still alive. He tried to say that the other werewolf was evil and had been out hunting in Las Vegas. But he still had the guy's clothes there, including his wallet. He was just some normal family guy from Vegas. The hunter found him and killed him. Just like he was going to kill you. So I had to make a decision. I killed him, Rue. I cold-bloodedly killed him."
Sobbing, Kennedy hung onto to her like a limpet. Veruca stroked her back and held her for a long time. Finally after what seemed like hours, the storm passed. Kennedy stopped crying. She didn't pull away though. She said, "Thanks for saving my life, Veruca."
Veruca stroked her hair. "You're welcome, Kennedy. Thanks for saving mine as well.
Kennedy's voice was still a little tremulous as she replied, "You're welcome."
"Ken, I want you to know one thing though."
"What's that?" Veruca could feel Kennedy's breath hot against her ear as she spoke.
"I'm still not going to sleep with you."
The snort of laughter was her only answer. Veruca also howled in laughter. They both laughed so hard it hurt, glad to be alive.
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Warren knocked. Maybe he wasn't home. The door opened. "Mr. Mears, it's good of you to come." With that Notty stepped aside, waiting.
Andrew had clued Warren in on Notty's oddball way of not inviting you in. The man was paranoia personified, especially since Warren had been standing in sunlight. He walked inside.
"Have a seat, please. Can I offer you any refreshments?" Notty stood, with an expectant expression on his face.
Warren shook his head. "No, thanks. I was just curious as to why you wanted to talk to me." Jesus, he thought, the guy really is Alfred.
Walking over to the window, Notty stood with his back to Warren, looking outside. Without turning around, he said, "Yes, that. Well, I've been speaking to Kennedy about you and something has come to light. I wanted to hear your thoughts."
Cautiously, Warren asked, "What about?"
Notty turned back around. "What were you thinking when you screwed your girlfriend in the back of your car, while Kennedy's life was at risk?"
Warren froze. "I don't know what you mean." He couldn't believe the old bastard had brought up something that embarrassing.
Notty gave him a perplexed look. "You don't? Then let me make myself clear. I believe that are an essentially selfish man, Mr. Mears. You use people, with little regard for them. You believe that people are put here to serve your whim. Am I right?"
Warren shook his head. Spluttering, he answered, "You're full of shit. I'm not like that at all. I helped Kennedy, didn't I? It's not like I got paid money or anything. Hell, I spent money on that blaster. Where the fuck do you get off saying this to me?"
Notty nodded imperturbably. "I see. Mr. Mears, do you know what my relationship is with Kennedy?"
Warren was puzzled and more than a little pissed. "You do her research so that she doesn't have to worry about it."
Notty chuckled. There was absolutely no humor in the icy sound. It made shivers go up and down Warren's back. "Mr. Mears, I am Kennedy's Watcher. I am her teacher, her researcher, her mentor, her guard, her friend, and her ... well, let's not digress. My ultimate concern is keeping her alive for as long as I can. I will do anything to achieve that goal, including making any necessary sacrifices. Including someone such as yourself or Mr. Wells."
Warren was really scared. Notty had shown a menacing side that continued to escalate over the last few weeks. Yesterday, when he told Warren and Andrew that they were going to kill the kidnappers, Warren had nearly been the one to pee his pants. "I don't know what you want."
"What I want? I want Kennedy to die of old age surrounded by grandchildren. Instead, she'll likely die within the year. That's far more common with Slayers. If she lives that long, she might have a chance to be one of the longer lived Slayers. But not if she surrounds herself with people of questionable moral fiber. Mr. Mears, let me spell it out to you. I do not believe that when... how do you Americans say it? Ahh, yes. When the shit hits the fan and you are in jeopardy, that Kennedy will be able to count on you. You've already demonstrated a remarkable carelessness with her safety, by not informing her of Jeff Chaney's presence and engaging in sex while she was in durance most vile. You seek the path of least resistance. You are selfish. You are lazy. You have no sense of honor. Do I go on?"
"You son of a bitch."
"Please don't insult a female dog by calling it after my mother. She was far worse than a bitch. There are no words... Do I see a reaction, Mr. Mears? Do you blame your mother for not loving you enough? Is that why you are so weak and flawed? Mumsy not let you suck her teats long enough?"
Warren got up. Fuck the old bastard. He wasn't going to sit here and discuss... his mother. He hadn't got five feet before he was shoved from behind into the wall. He tried to twist around, but his arm was forced up behind his back, almost to the breaking point. Warren broke out in a painful sweat. "Get off me, you sick freak!"
"I'm not done with you yet, Mr. Mears. Kennedy has chosen to surround herself with flawed individuals. She's still young enough to think that people change. You and I know better, don't we? People don't change, they just distill down to their true nature. Don't we, Mr. Mears?"
Warren almost begged him. "What do you want from me? Why are you doing this? You don't know me! You can't! How could you?"
Notty whispered into Warren's ear as he twisted his arm higher. "I know you because you are just like I was, once. I did horrible things back then as a young man. Things that would make even a man such as yourself regurgitate the contents of your stomach."
"You changed! Why can't I?" The pain from his arm and shoulder was excruciating. Warren wasn't even sure what he was saying or why he was saying it. He wasn't a bad person, not really. He hadn't ever really done anything to anyone. His thoughts didn't count. They couldn't. They were just fantasies.
"Did I? I suppose it seems so on the surface. But, you see, deep down, I didn't change. Not really. Still, I suppose there's a small chance. Minuscule, but it does exist." He released Warren's arm and stepped back. "Sit back down, Mr. Mears. You and I still have lots to talk about."