4. Chapter 4

Disclaimer: I still own nothing.

Upper Realms

When Sandra orbed in she headed straight for Elder Zola. "Elder Zola I have news," she said.

"Ah, Sandra. So how goes our new witch," he replied.

"He's settled into a hotel room, and managed to get a job working as a bartender at a bar named Boa Cervexa. Where the kid learned to sling drinks is a mystery to me, but he's good," Sandra said.

At this point she was drawing the other Elders attention. Unfortunate that meant Elder Odin started to take an interest in the report as well. If there was any Elder that Sandra disliked more than Elder Odin she hadn't found them yet. To her he was a pompous, arrogant; full of himself Elder who was constantly on any White Lighters case if they didn't follow the rules to a T. Sandra normally doesn't deal with him since she avoids him like a plague.

"So how is the Hellmouth witch? Is he a threat that we should worry about or should we just kill him now and be done with it?" Elder Odin asked.

Not two minutes with the guy and he's already causing her to grind her teeth. "No Elder Odin. As far as I can tell he is not being influenced by the residual energies at all. Actually the Hellmouth's demonic energy seems to be dissipating," she answered. Sandra continued, "There is something that's been bothering me. There is something off about his aura. I can't place what it is, but it doesn't seem bad. I was actually going to make this report after I had a chance to let a friend of mine read his aura more closely, but things came up."

"This troubles me. Be sure to bring us your findings after your friend has had a chance to read him. Auras can tell a lot about a person," Elder Zola said.

"What happened to make you report early, Sandra?" Elder Jonnah asked.

Sandra Smiled at Elder Jonnah. While she liked the other Elders for the most part she was particularly close to Elders Zola and Jonnah.

"Tonight on his way back to his hotel he heard a scream of a girl being attacked by a Grock demon. He charged off towards the scream pulling out two blessed daggers," Sandra began. "Upon seeing the demon he did not hesitate, but lunged at it Knocking it off its feet. The two then continued to brawl until finally Alex managed to get a dagger in its eye scrambling its brains."

"Impressive," Elder Zola said. Elder Odin just grunted in response.

"Why did he not just use his powers?" Elder Jonnah asked.

"I believe he doesn't know he has any," Sandra responded.

Cries of outrage immediately sprung up amongst the gathered Elders until one asked," He is an Aiken witch how could he not know about his powers?"

Sandra had thought about this too long enough to come up with a theory about how this could happen. "I believe," she began gaining everyone's attention. "I believe that when the Aiken witches moved to the Hellmouth, to help protect it, they underestimated its corruptive energy."

"This particular Hellmouth is stronger than any other. Its energy has many different forms; while its corruptive power is its most useful it can also have a draining effect, especially on forces of good. I think the Aiken witches were slowly drained until it appeared they had no magic at all. Furthermore now that Alex is away from the Hellmouth he has pulled free of its influence, and should start manifesting his powers soon," she finished.

The Elders shared worried looks. "If what you say is true then he has no training, and is a budding, powerful, witch. We will need to approach him soon before he starts attracting Warlocks and others of their ilk," Elder Zola said. "I believe that you should talk to him after you have his aura read. Something about that is troubling me," he continued.

With that Sandra nodded and orbed out to meet her friend in LA to see if he can come any sooner.

Xander's' hotel room

Xander was just starting to wake up.

Ahhg! I feel like I just fought a demon. He thought to himself. He rolled over and looked at his bedside table and saw his daggers there coated in green demon goo.

Crap I did fight a demon he thought. Then how did I get here and why am I not bleeding or bandaged? Xander was seriously confused. Then a light bulb went off in his head. The feeling I've been getting the one like someone has been watching me maybe there has been someone following me.

"Oh! I wish I had a Giles right now," he said out loud.

"Right so no Giles means that I have to do the research thing solo."

With that Xander left to find an occult store or bookshop.

5. Chapter 5

Xander's hotel room

'Well that was a bust' Xander thought to himself. He had looked through four occult bookstore, two libraries, and a lot of internet sites, but nothing. Oh sure he found a lot of benevolent being, but there was no way to which one helped him. Not to mention if it was benevolent at all. Xander decided to call it a day since he had to be at work in two hours.

He had been cautious all day, but he hadn't had that creepy sensation of someone watching him. That meant either they got what they want or they were being extra careful. Either way Xander was going to be packing some extra heat tonight.

"Hmm maybe the battle ax," he said to himself. "Nah to big better go with the short sword," he finally decided.

While Xander was getting ready for work Sandra was trying to convince her friend to make a quick stop in San Francisco.

"Come on Lorne it will be really quick. One orb there one aura scan and one orb back five minutes tops," Sandra said.

"I love ya darling but no," Lorne replied.

"Why not? Come on its only one scan and it's for one of my charges pleeease," she begged. Lorne was the only one who ever made her beg.

"And how do you think will make him sing for me?"

She gave him a shocked look but replied, "I don't need or want his destiny read I just want his basic aura scanned."

Lorne just looked at her with a puzzled look on his face before he asked, "Then why do you need me? There are about ten people, in San Francisco alone, I can name that can scan auras."

Sandra moved next to him and bumped him with her hip. "Yes there are other and probably better aura readers out there, but I trust you." She gave him a piercing look and said, "In all the time we've known each other you have never let me down. I can't say the same for some of my other friends."

Lorne looked at her for a long time before letting out a sigh and nodding his head said, "Let me grab my coat."

Before he could get out the door Sandra yelled to him, "And a hat. Don't forget a hat he's probably being extra cautious tonight."

"How do I get myself into these messes is beyond me," he said walking out the door.

Sandra smirked to herself. She knew just how to manipulate Lorne. What she said was true she trusted Lorne completely she just hadn't told him everything. There were other aura readers that were just as good if not better; however, Lorne always kept things confidential. Once a couple of years ago he was attacked in this very bar. The people who did it wanted to know the destiny of one of his clients. He held on for almost two days before she was able to find him, and kill those sorry lawyers. Since her healing touch doesn't work on demons she stayed with him till he was able to move.

She had a feeling that whatever he found in Alex's aura was going to be big, so she wanted to use the one person who she knew could be trusted to take secrets to the grave. She heard a shuffling sound and saw Lorne in a long trench coat dark sun glassed and large hat that cast his face into shadow.

"Good we can get going. He should be heading off to work soon so we'll hide in the alley next to the bar to lower our chances of being seen," she told her friend.

Lorne let out another sigh before nodding his head and grabbing her arm. With that they orbed into the alley to wait for Xander.

"Ugh did we have to wait here it's disgusting and smells like babies' diapers and vomit," Lorne complained.

"Yes now be quiet he should be here any minute," Sandra replied.

Five minutes later she saw Xander walk past. She gave Lorne a tap on the shoulder to tell him that was the guy. She saw Xander pause and look around, so she quickly pulled Lorne deeper into the shadows.

'I forgot that he can sense me' she thought to herself.

Xander gave one last look at the alleyway before speeding up and heading into the bar. Sandra stepped out of the shadows with Lorne and looked at him expectantly. She was shocked to see his eyes had bugged out and his mouth was moving up and down like a fish out of water.

"Damn girl you sure know how to pick 'em," was all he said.

"What is it what did you see?" she demanded.

Lorne looked around and shook his head. "Not here," he told her.

She grabbed his hand and orbed them to his office at Caritas. She sat down in the chair in front of the desk and just looked at him. Lorne, meanwhile, had grabbed a glass and quickly filled it up with an amber colored liquid. He threw that one back before quickly pouring another one.

"Lorne," she said with a look that said tell me now or I'll beat it out of you.

He looked at her for a moment before he shook his head. "You said he's lived on the Sunnydale Hellmouth his entire life?" he asked. Seeing her nod he just shook his head and said "double damn."

He finally looked up and pulled himself together. After looking at his half empty glass he put it down and pulled out a flask from the bottom drawer of his desk. Sandra looked at it and asked "that bad huh?" He just gave her a nod.

"Your boy has one of the 'Whitest' auras I've ever seen."

She just looked at him in shock. "You don't mean…"

"Yeah sugar. I'm not 100% certain but my monies on you having yourself a genuine white knight," he said before taking a long drink from the flask.

Sandra just sat there for a long time before grabbing the flask and taking a drink herself. "Thank you Lorne. I'm sure I don't have to tell you to keep this to yourself." At his nod she stood up and orbed away.

"Kid I wish you the best of luck you have a tough road ahead of you. At least you have one of the best White Lighters watching your back," he said to himself before heading back into the bar. He had a business to run.