Twice Lucky

Rise of the Watcher

Chapter 5: The Harvest

… … … … … … … … … … … … …

The Master observed Spike for a moment before deciding - with disgust - that, yes, he could be useful.

"You will seek out the parts of an age-old demon known as the Judge." Dru's eyes rolled as she swayed.

"He's powerful."

The Master smiled, his grim face forming the death's head. "And, soon, he will be able to help us in our great quest."

"Why?" Spike asked with an air of boredom

The Master sighed. "The Judge will purge this world of non-believers, eliminating those that would be a threat to my rule. He will be my judge and jury."

Spike shrugged, twisting Dru's hair as she swayed happily, while thinking about the damage he could cause.

"Come," the Master said whilst standing. "Tonight, we shall remake history."

The Master used his long finger nails and cut small lines into them, blood started to flow, the Master stepped down to Luke and began to draw a three-pointed star on his forehead with the blood still flowing from his wrist.

"On this... most hallowed night... we are as one. Luke is the Vessel!" He paused. "Every soul he takes will feed me. And their souls will grant me the strength to free myself. Tonight, I shall walk the Earth, and the stars, themselves, will hide!"

… … … … … … … … … … … … …

"Miss Summers, there is something that we need to discuss with you." Wesley had taken the opportunity to talk to Buffy's mom, and, naturally, he'd needed the rest of them available. It was decided by Giles to get this out of the way as soon as possible, as it would avoid any complications later on; like, Buffy getting grounded, for one.

"Okay dears, please come in." She showed them into the kitchen and started making tea. Xander took a can of Coke from her with a grateful smile.

"Miss Summers, there's something we need to discuss that concerns Buffy."

The look on the older woman's face was priceless. "Buffy's not into drugs, is she?"

"Cliché." Buffy threw Xander a smirk.

"No, Miss Summers, your daughter is not- No, it's something far more dangerous," he sighed. "In every generation, there is a Chosen One. She alone will stand against the vampires, the demons and the forces of darkness. She is the Slayer."

Joyce looked confused. "I don't understand."

"Buffy is standing on the crossroads of destiny, Miss Summers. She will either move onto greatness or die."

Joyce blanched.

"She is a Slayer, the slayer of darkness, vampires and demons; Protector of all that is good and innocent."

Joyce looked at her daughter.

"Is it true that she spent some time in an asylum?"

Now Giles looked up, he hadn't known about that.

"Yes. We thought she was losing her mind."

Wesley smiled sadly, "No, Miss Summers, she was beginning her destiny."

"I think," she paused and took a deep, shaking breath. "That you should all leave now."

"No, Miss Summers." Wesley's face was a little harsher now. "You must see the truth for what it is; a sugar-coated topping to distract us from the real world."

Now, Xander looked at the Watcher, with a smile and a hint of respect in his eyes. "Angel, if you would?"

The nice young man, that Joyce had chatted with on various occasions, suddenly morphed his face into something so horrid, that it made her heart stop.

… … … … … … … … … … … … …

"Tonight, my most faithful servant, you will go out into the night and bring me the power with which I can break free of my prison, and then we shall crush this pitiful town. And, with it, the world shall follow."

… … … … … … … … … … … … …

Drusilla swelled with pride as she looked over the first piece of the box; the first piece of the puzzle she, and her baby, would put together. Spike waited patiently by her side as she stroked the head's cage, hearing its words as it spoke to her, like a soft lullaby.

She nodded at the two heavies and they walked over, hefting up the prize. Soon, the Judge would be theirs and the lovely flesh would be ripe for the taking.

… … … … … … … … … … … … …

"It's getting dark and Buffy needs to go. Soon, the Harvest will begin."

"She can't," Joyce stood. "I won't allow it."

"I'm sorry, Joyce," the nice Mister Giles said, stepping in. "She needs to go. We'll protect her; she has good friends, who'll stand by her side."

"She'll be back before breakfast," Wesley said with a rare smile.

… … … … … … … … … … … … …

Luke and the other vampires were crowded in the Bronze. Luke, the age-old servant of the Master – smiled, as he took a squirming victim by the throat and sank his teeth in, feeling the blood rush into his mouth; strength surging to the Master.

It was Glorious!

He took another, and another; all the while, feeling the Master growing stronger and stronger. Luke could feel him smiling through the bond.

Yes, the time - when vampires would rise up from the depths and rule the night - was almost at hand. He looked up, blood dripping from his fangs, as the door burst open. Two young women stood there: the blonde he had spotted before, the real Slayer and the other, the pretender, the potential.

Luke growled.

He hadn't had a decent fight since 1843, in Madrid, if memory served. He lunged at her, hands outstretched like claws. She dodged out of the way and snapped up a kick that connected with his chin. The girl had moves; that, was for sure.

"Almost free."

The Master could, indeed, feel the strength running through his veins as he stood against the barrier; pushing his hand against, watching with a grim fascination as it rippled and wavered.

The Master raised his hands and bellowed toward the surface: "Give me MORE!"

Luke laughed loudly. "Tonight is his ascension. Tonight will be history at its' end! Yours is a glorious sacrifice! Degradation, most holy." No one in the crowd stirred "What? No volunteers?!"

"Slayer, come to me, let your blood run through my veins."

Buffy rolled her eyes. "Do you guys all have a script, or something?"

Luke snarled and took a swipe at her that she easily ducked. She spun around - in a perfect roundhouse - once again, smacking him across the face with her foot. While Luke was distracted, the others in the group started moving the students quietly out of the Bronze. Every so often, a vampire would get the bright idea of trying to stop them, causing the floor to become littered with ash.

Buffy had a sudden inspiration and fought the vessel onto the stage, where she grabbed the microphone. "You forget, steel can't hurt me!"

Buffy chuckled, "No, but sunlight can."

Luke's eyes widened as she threw it; moonlight shining through the shattered window as Luke covered his face in fear of being burned. And suddenly, Buffy was there.

He started.

She smiled.

"Sunlight's in about nine hours, moron."

The Master screamed in anger as his vessels burst into flames.

Angel stood in the crowd as the Watchers were leading outside people; a smile creeping up his face. "Well, I'll be damned."

… … … … … … … … … … … … …

"So, I'm curious," Wesley said as he sat with the group. "Why didn't we use the Scythe?

Giles sighed and exchanged a look with Diana - a look he was becoming familiar with from the whole group. "Wesley, imagine what would happen if that had gone pear-shaped and the Vessel had gotten a hold of the scythe."

Wesley winced. "Fair point."

Wesley smoothed his trouser leg; the only problem with fighting vampires was that it messed up ones' clothes. He spied Xander lifting up his nose and sniffing.

"Mister Harris?"

Xander flinched at being caught. "I smell cookies."

They were all sporting various bruises - even Wesley had managed to get sucker punched and had a nice shiner for it. Not moments after Xander had made the comment, Missus Summers walked out, carrying a large tray with steam coming off it.

"Xander's always able to smell some hot cookies," Faith said dryly. Xander chuckled and nudged her, as Joyce had gone a little pink at the Potential's comment.

Harris reached over and took a bite. "Not bad, not bad at all."