Act 1 Wings of Change

© 2003 by Chris Regan

Aidan Rescue

It had been nine weeks since the bomb had blown up the WD. It had been a cold rainy week, this morning Millie a sleek black tabby was very restless coming in and going out the pet door, when Jana saw her.

"Millie what is the matter with you?"

The cat just meowed repeatedly.

"Show me girl"

I opened the door and the cat went out then stopped and looked back at me as if she was saying, "Are you coming!"

I smiled at her and said, "I'm coming"

At that, the cat ran three more feet with me fallowing her. The cat was very proud of anything she caught so I thought that was what the excitement was about until I saw two dirt-wet balls of fur laying next to the roses.

"O My, No" I ran to them yelling "Bast, Pasht."

I had stopped collect another burrow full of wood to watch the scene before returned to my work when I heard Miss Jana yell and saw her run for the roses. I went to see what was troubling her. Then I saw, the two cats laying there I ran up and got the empty wheel burrow and she put them in it along with Millie who was having fits.

I stopped out side the kitchen door, opened it and yelled at Les "The kittens are back".

What shape are they in?"

"Not Good" I saw her grab towel as she trotted though the kitchen. Jana gentle scooped up the first large kitten and hand it to Les' towel covered arms. Les passed it to Mrs. Beth who had just came in from the underground passage. After she saw the shape the kitten was in, I saw her directing Les with great speed to get a wooden box and bedding as Miss Jana got the other cat.

I closed the door and got cups and made the tea sat at the table in the kitchen watching as Miss Jana, Mrs. Beth gently cleaned them. Millie sat on the cat tree watching all the activity very proud of her self.

Miss Jana looked at the kitten in her lap "you poor little thing" as she shook her head then said "Hugo, get me the phone."

"Yes Mistress Jana,"

"I told you to call me Jana"

"Yes Mistress" As I hand it to her.

I though you scoundrel as I looked at him but could see he was doing it to raze me, for everything at that moment was so dire and he knew I was worried. I said, with a laugh in my voice and at winkle in my eye "Finish your tea then get about your work you scoundrel."

"Yes Miss… I mean Jana."

He sits and drinks his tea in silence as she turns her attention to the phone she had.

"Hello is Doctor Darren Ryan available I have an emergency"

"What is the problem Lady Burns?"

"Bast and Pasht showed up today in terrible state, they were both dirty, wet, dehydrated."

"Just a moment"

"I could hear Darren and the receptionist talking."

"Lady Burns is on the line the kittens Bast and Pasht are in bad shape."

"Can they be moved in a cage?"

"Can then be move in a cage?"

"Yes, nothing appears broken."

"Fine Doctor, I will tell her"

"He says to bring them in at two and he will look at them."

"Thank you"

After the conversation, I had finished my tea, "I know Jana I need to get the cages from the basement," I said.

She smiled as the kitten in her lap meowed.

"Are you going to need me to drive you in to the vet?"

"Yes it would be handy to have an extra set of hand."

"Then I better get out side and finish with the out side chores" Bast reach her paw out from under the folds of the clean warm towel that Les had exchange when Jana was on the phone with the vet' office. She tried to cradle into my lap and I caught her.

"It looks like she has other ideas Hugo."

I took a deep breath and shook my head "What I do for you females."

The others laughed as they watched me wrap Bast up in the towel in a short time we heard her purring as she fell a sleep laying on my lap.

It was later that day I got my chores done; I was collecting the last load of wood when the kids were walking up the drive.

"Hugo what are you doing out here?"

"Hi Finn I got behind in my chores."

"What happened?"

"Millie's kittens Bast, Pasht showed up without Crissy."

"How are they" ask Nia.

"They are fine no broken bones but the Doc said they were dehydrated, had cuts and may be sore for up to two to three weeks."

"That is a good that there are no broken bones said Elen."

"I wonder where Crissy is."

"I don't any Liam."

With a worried look Liam said, "Oh Aunt Jana must be going nut she thought of Crissy as her daughter I'm sure she will want to search the tunnels again."

"Yes Liam, I suppose she will; you better go in its getting cold out."

"Yea I guess so"

I watched them as the kids walked away, the others happily chatted but Liam lagged behind with a look of worry on his young face.

As Alden is sitting on his patio thinking, "Jana and I had looked in the rubble of the WD building and found not a blasted thing three weeks after the bombing, we looked in the tunnels six weeks after building had been bombed.

I wonder how deep the longer tunnel went into the earth could they have survived down there Aiden knew where the underground water supplies where so maybe.

When we searched, we found the short tunnels blocked with concert from the WD side when all was moved and we could get in the tunnel the other end was blocked by a mound of dirt.

The longer one was blocked with great blocks of rock and dirt where the two passages joined from the WD side. We have no idea if the other end of the tunnel caved in at the cemetery side yet.

Between us, Jana and I we hoped he escaped through the longer tunnel. Our biggest worry is that he will turn on any others with him if trapped in the underground tunnels. However, the coroner didn't find any bodies with bit marks and neither Aiden nor the fourteen watchers that were missing have shown up. I wonder if I should have told Joe about the tunnels."

Crystal came out with a tray that held a fresh pot of tea and scones; she sat it on the electric warmer "When I was out I picked up fresh scones."

With a far away look in my eyes I said, "That's nice dear."

She looked at me "I know that look Alden what's on your mind?"

"I was thinking about Aiden and hoping he and the others escaped though the tunnels."

"You looked worried."

"It is strange that the WD would be bombed at this time. It's like the bomb was intended to destroy all the records in the basement."

"Is that what Joe told you when he called?"

"He said the evidence pointed to the main bomb being on the ground floor with others smaller ones scatter around in the building but that they found scorch marks and a heavy amount of bomb fragmentation in the basement and though out the lower floors."

"It was deliberately set then!"

"Yes that is what the bomb squad and the coroner report said."

"It is odd that it should come at this time Aiden sent Adriane's Diary to me before the WD was blown up. Could there be something in it that tells who the next members will be?"

"I read some of her diary and remembered what Gwen has said about Angel."

"Yes"

"I wonder could Angel and the dark haired one Adriane spoke of be the same."

She sipped her tea for a moment then spoke slowly "It is very possible, we are overdue for new blood to arrive in the vampire and slayer sector of the League. According to Gwen, she saw Angel and she said he looks like Guillaume portrait."

"Crystal, the American news from the Los Angeles area said there is a killer roaming the streets killing young women. Which according to my time line for these events it falls at the right time with the recorded history of the League?"

Crystal taking a sip of her tea "Jana told me that she heard from Queen Diamanta after the last big battle in Los Angeles, Uilliam grand sire Spike started running Wolfram & Hart."

"Do you think Angel is killing all thoughts young women in Los Angeles?"

"I think there is a better than average chance that he is the one."

"Do you think we should advice Erma about what we suspect?"

"It couldn't hurt since she is there on that case."

"Should I send her the files on the past cases of this type?"

"Yes I think you should."

"Have you heard the new roomer on the London streets there is a new female vampire hunting on the docks?""

"Yes I heard about her no one knows who she is yet, just that she is insane, the ladies are working on a way to catch her with some help from Mr. Flynn people."

"If we catch her it is going to be a long time before she is sane."

"Yes, Andre will have his hands full with that one."

"Yes like he had with that insane slayer."

When she saw Uilliam the first time…"

"Yes I know it set her back for a number of weeks until she figured out that he wasn't Spike."

"More Tea?"

"Yes"

It was about five that afternoon when I got a call from Jana, I was pouring the tea as my cellular phone next to me rang, I clicked the loudspeaker button and I handed the cup to Crystal as the person came on the line.

"Alden, it me Jana, Bast and Pasht they showed up this morning."

"They must have escaped though the tunnels if so where is Crissy and Aiden?"

"I don't know but the cats are in bad shape it was a miracle that they made it here Alden. They are both dehydrated Darren said it will be weeks before they are back to normal."

I smile to myself "Jana they were tough cats from birth give them time and TLC they will come back to life better than before."

With sadness in her voice, "I know it. It's just… I don't think Crissy and Alden have that type of time for us to wait."

"I know Jana but it does give me hope that Aiden and Crissy are some were in the longer tunnel. Are you going to search the tunnels?"

"Yes, we are going to in the next day or so."

I heard a meow come over the phone "It sounds like some one is calling you.

"Yes the kittens are waking; I need to check on them."

"Sure you do that, bye for now."

"Yes bye"

During the conversation Crystal had got up and left the room, she had come back in with a bag. "Alden what is the matter you look worried?"

"That was Jana, Bast and Pasht showed up on her door step this morning with out Crissy."

"OH my, she thought of that girl as if she was her daughter. Now…"

"She plans to search for them in the old a day or two we should start preparing to help Les."

With a smile, "Yes you're right I'll give Les a call and see what we can do."

On a phone table sat an old black rotary dial phone which was there more for show these days than for practicality with the family all having cellular phones now it was little used we just hadn't canceled the service yet.

I picked up the phone and sit on the attached chair, dialed the number "Les I just heard the news is there anything we can do? The search us planned for tomorrow, we'll bring extra Blood and take out for tomorrow night. What kind of take out would the humans like? Fried Chicken, see you tonight bye."

We got to the castle at eight sharp that day as we pulled up out side the kitchen door old Jed started barking at us, then we heard howls from his younger generation. As we got out, around the corner came Polly and the pups from her last litter. The kitchen door opened and Les stood looking at the busy scene of dogs wanting attention and Hugo running up to us as he tried to put leashes on the dogs.

"Polly you pretty hound, Alden, look at Bo and Jed Jr. they are marked just like there dad."

"Yes dear I see."

"Bena looks more like Polly," said Hugo.

I could see Les laughing at the scene, as she and a number of kids and adults came out to greet us and help us collect the goods we had.

"Come in, come in" Les said.

We had gone into the kitchen, I saw the cage with the cats I knew they were in bad shape however to see them in such a terrible condition worried me.

"I was sitting out on the old rock patio with my tea thinking I knew Aiden was a watcher and knew the tunnels better than I did. He also had been a vampire and Member of the League longer that I. He knew the penalty for killing humans or turning them without reason.

I don't know his whole story but this is what he told me of it, in the old days like many of us, he hunted like vampires of old, until White Wolf ran across him in the dark alleys of London as he cried over his latest victim. Since that time, he had been getting his blood from the butcher, and keeping his eye on the daily business of the WD for the last two centuries."

Jana came out not long after, to the patio to sip her tea, she sat down; she didn't speak at first she stared out toward the woods.

"Alden, many weeks have passed since the WD was bombed, what if Aiden's trapped in the underground caverns between WD and WD Crypts."

"Jana, I know what you're thinking without other sources of blood, he might turn on any humans with him."

"Yes what are we going to do if…"

"Hope it doesn't happed but if it does I'm sure Gwen and Altair will be reasonable…"

"Perhaps."

She took her tea and walked out to the woods.

The next time I saw her she was in the kitchen feeding Bast as Les had Pasht the two cats were starting to look better as they tried to clean the cream off their faces, and then settled down for a nap.

"Alden I spoke to Giles and Uilliam about rescuing Aidan we are leaving tomorrow."

"You can count on us Jana."

"Good, good I was hoping I could."

Tomorrow looked like it was going to be a long day. I got up to look for Crystal, I found her in the exercise room working with Kennedy and some of the slayers. She was showing them moves that White Wolf had taught her when she was there age. Every time I saw her in action it was like watching a stream flow over rocks her moves were so smooth.

"Crystal, are you through?"

"Just about Why?"

"Jana is going to search the caves and tunnels tomorrow morning, I and some other are going to join her."

She looked at her watch "It is late we all should get to bed, morning will come early. Good night Ladies, see you early tomorrow."

"Yea, good night Crystal"

It was about nine the next morning when we got to the crypt. Starting the search after going in through the secret passage with lamps, we fine a mound of dirt and debris blocking the longer one then sees little paw prints in dirt, as we got deeper until we hit a wall of dirt and rock.

Having small shovels Giles and Xander were digging the dirt out as I put it into pails I had the other organized into assembly line that took the pails out as we filled them then returned the pail.

During a brake we heard muffled sounds like crying from the other side of the dirt "Aiden is that you?" said Jana

The crying just kept on with no answer; we feverishly took more dirt out, trip after trip we took dirt out in earnest the wall of dirt broke very suddenly. We heard the crying clearly then Jana yelled in "Aiden is that you?" as she shined a lamp around.

He put his hand up, as he looked at the lamp light "Jana is that really you?"

"Yes Aiden it's me I have Giles here too."

With red, tear stains on his face and tears streaming in his eyes "No, No I don't want him to see me this way; I don't want him to see what I've done."

"Okay Aiden what happened?"

"I, I turned them, I turned them."

"Who?"

"The ones I was trying to rescue, the one I was trying to rescue."

With a deep breath "Ok Aiden I'm going to pass you blood are the other awake?"

"No, No not yet."

"Okay that will give us time, did you waited as long as you could before biting them."

"Yes Jana"

"They shouldn't be a wake until night fall. You sit and drink the blood, keep your eye on the others while we dig this hole bigger."

"Okay"

"Guys we need to move as fast as we can or there's going to be some very hungry vampire come out of this hole."

Moving quickly we got the hole open and the vampires out.

Before they left Xander asked, "Are there any more people?"

"Yes, we had a cave in and some got trapped behind the other wall of dirt I can still hear them but it is weakly," said Alden.

Wrapped in blankets the vampires were taken out to the van. "Giles you take the others back to the castle, Xander and I will try to dig through to the others."

"Find we'll bring back water for you, Amanda, Willow and Kennedy stay and help him."

"Sure Giles."

"Yea"

"Yes"

"Yea the water is almost gone."

Xander and I took a few minutes to get some water, and much needed rest while the girls started to dig.

"Alden after killing so many vampires I never thought I would be helping to dig them out."

"I can understand that after being a watcher for many years I didn't think I would become one nor did I dream of being a member of such and odd group."

"I know what you mean."

"Back to the salt mines."

"Yea we better get back to work if we want them out by the time the constables come."

Getting back to the castle, I called the authorities and told them "Robert, we found the missing people in the old tunnels of the WD. My Family and friends were trying to get them dug out."

"OK, Jana I will meet you out there with emergency services"

"Did you find him?"

Yes he and some other have been taken to our hospital but there are humans trapped behind a wall of rock and dirt."

The ambivalence met Jana at the crypt and fallowed Jana though the passage to were Xander and the slayers were digging and took over. While they rested, Xander said, "Lets get out of here."

"Yea I could use a bath I feel like I have dirt it every crack." Said Kennedy.

"We want to question the others later."

"Find comes by the castle Joe"

"Sure no problem Lady Jana"

Robert pulled up in the drive later that night around ten, he was part of the family by now had his own key to the place and everything. He saw the other car in the drive and frowned as he saw the red light on the dash, which told him it was a cop.

Joe was standing in the entry of the castle as Constable Robert Dillon came in Joe looked at him held his key up "You know what they are?"

Robert nods and Joe lets out a deep breath of relief as they both start to laugh for no reason.

"Jana came into the hall looked at them "you came at the end of dinner. Are you hunger?"

They looked at each other and nodded "Fallow me" she said, as she took them into the dinning room were Les was standing up figuring out what would be taken out first.

"Joe & Robert your late!"

For two grown men they looked sheepishly at that moment "You know were everything is help yourself," said Les with a shake of her head.

She didn't have to tell them twice they moved after they had eaten.

"Well how did you know about the tunnels?"

Giles steps in and "I'm one of the last watcher still alive and when I was young I had found the tunnel and though it would make a good escape route if something happened to the building. I had mentioned it to the old vault keeper I guess he remembered me mentioning he could use it to escape if anything happened."

Joe looked at him then asked "Where were you on the day that the WD was bombed"

"I was out of the country," Giles said as pulled out his passport handing it to the Constable.

The Constable looked at it then hand it back, "I see you were in the States, was it business or pleasure?"

"Business"

Taking out a pad, "I may want to talk with you again in the future Mr. Giles, where are you staying?"

"I'm staying here at the Pictone Castle"

The Constable put his pad away and then both men left the castle.

In the kitchen you could heard yelling and growling coming from the underground passage as Hugo, Les and Beth hustled about loading Coolers with plastic packets of red liquid then left though the underground passage.

It was later as Jana came in the kitchen to check on the cats that she saw the trio coming into the kitchen disheveled from the under ground passage.

"How are they?"

"As well as can be expected," said Hugo.

"Being bit by a mad vampire is tuff on there psyche" said Beth.

"I'm not sure which I feel sorrier for Aiden or his victims," said Les.

"Have they had blood?"

"Yes Jana we just finish giving it to them," said Hugo.

"How is Crissy?"

Les looked down thinking for a moment "She is deep in the throws of withdrawals I think she was the first he attacked."

"I could kill him."

"Jana she would of died along with the rest of the watchers if he hadn't bit and exchanged blood with them."

"I know Beth I just feel so helpless at this moment."

"In a way he did save there lives, he saw what he was doing and knew that it was wrong to kill them so he turned them."

"Yes I know but what is Gwen and Altair going to say or do."

"I, I don't know Les, how about tea while we discuss it?"

"I a nice cup of Chamile would hit the spot about now."

Les busled around the kitchen filling and putting the kettle on the stove then liting it. Then she got out the tea, pastrys and cups.

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