Chapter 5
New Home

"Esperanza, tell our Ms. Haversham to come here immediately. I need to speak with her about some urgent business."

A maid scurried to her side and made note of what she needed to do and headed out of the large home. It was nearly dawn and the sky was barely red with the tints of sun now creeping in the sky. The hustles of the morning marketplaces were in full swing as the people of Madrid bartered for their produce and livestock. She stopped and purchased an herbal supplement the local gypsies were famous for. She had been instructed to buy it for the girl her mistress was taking care of. For what reason, she did not know. All she could guess was that it was only meant to make the girl a bit stronger. She had met the girl some time before and the girl who was of the mistress's interest was thin as a rail. She walked down the streets and hailed a coach to take her to the countryside. The grasses were tall where this girl lived. And as the wind blew the sight of the small cottage she lived in was coming into view.

"Driver please stop here."

The maid got off the coach and began to walk to the young girl's house, she was immediately drawn to the large crucifix hanging on the door. With a secret knock the door opened and there in the doorway stood an old woman clutching her rosary.

"Yes?" The old woman managed to say.

"Hello I am here to speak with your daughter, I'm representative of Mrs. Virginia Pryce."

The old woman nodded and let the maid in, she followed the old woman through the door and into the house. The roof was small and very poorly kept. She stopped abruptly in the hall and whispered to the maid that her daughter was in the room.

"Thank you for your assistance." Esperanza the maid said kindly.

The old woman looked at her curiously and stood in her place where the door happened to be.

"I'm sorry but this is a matter of confidence…only she can hear what I have to say. You do understand I trust?"

The old woman raised an eyebrow but nodded and began to walk back the way they came. The maid opened the door to find the walls littered with red paintings. Words in different languages and there on the floor was an old ax and crossbow.

"Hello Esperanza…good to see you again. You found your way here safely I trust?" A voice echoed seemingly out of nowhere.

"Yes Victoria…I did. I have something for you."
There out of the darkness came a young girl, dirt smudged her cheeks and her hair slightly out of place. Her clothes were that of a peasant. A torn long brown dress with a white apron embroidered with red roses coming out at the seems.

"I guess Mrs. Pryce wasn't kidding when she said I needed this potion every day was she?"

Esperanza smiled and handed her the small bottle of herbal tonic and sat with her legs crossed on a stool nearby.

"I have a bit of information I was told to tell you Victoria."

Victoria began to pick up the ax and swing it around. She smiled as she was able to make it swing around with more ease with each day. There was a time when she was not able to even pick up the weapon due to it's heavy weight and now it was as light as a staff.

"By all means…tell me then. Or shall I guess? Is there another vampire running around attacking the chickens of a nearby village? Or is another warlock doing magic plagues on a nearby monastery?"

Esperanza chuckled and stood up with a start and made her way to the crossbow. She aimed in the direction of the dummy made of straw and cloth. Then placing it down she smiled and returned her gaze back to Victoria.

"No none of the lot I'm afraid, it is actually quite serious…you may have to leave your home because of it."

Victoria noted the seriousness in her voice and stood still to listen.

"The rumors of the Order coming here have just been confirmed and your are needed in Madrid. This isn't an ordinary vampire coven Victoria…they are strong and a powerful paragon of evil in the demonic hierarchy. The leader of it is known as the Master. A vampire so old even the texts in the library of the council do not predate the precise time he was sired."

Victoria paced the room and let her words flow through her mind. She then stopped and placed the ax down.

"Hold on a minute Esperanza, if I leave will my family be taken care of?"

Esperanza smiled but then quickly lost it.

"Well the Watcher's Council will send agents to see after them surely but we need to know that if things go bad, you have your affairs in order for both you and your kin."

Victoria then felt a suddenly surge of sorrow.

"So you're anticipating my demise so soon?"
Esperanza placed her hand on Victoria's shoulder and tried to ease her worry.

"Look, they could find out any time who you are…who you really are and that could be dangerous. It means they will attack everything and everyone just to draw you out and distract you long enough to kill you."

Victoria had a tear run down her cheek and as she drew a deep breath with her back turned she quickly turned around and exhaled harshly.

"I didn't ask to be the slayer…in fact I never asked for anything other than a prosperous life for me and my family. Then suddenly I have these nightmares about monsters…vampires, warlocks, demons, then you step up to my door with Mrs. Virginia and take my life away with those three little words; You were chosen. I took on the duty of a slayer…my mother thinks I'm possessed. She thinks the devil has corrupted me. You've seen the crucifixes, they're all hers not mine. They've kept the vampires away surely but they are really meant to draw the demons out of me. How am I supposed to just leave them all behind?"

Esperanza walked away from her and coldly stated.

"It is our duty…it is your job to fight the vampires. It is your destiny."

Victoria began to sob and as she sat on the ground looking over her room she cried even more.

"H…How am I supposed to say goodbye to the one person I love more than anything in the world?"

Esperanza handed her a handkerchief and picked her up from the ground.

"You simply have to know that you have a higher calling…now get your things ready I shall inform your mother of your departure."

Victoria sniffled and got up taking her weapons and holy water into her trunk.

"I guess I'll have a new home to look forward to."

The maid smiled and nodded as she made her way out of the room.

"A new home…"