Jerrie made his way down the hall, knocking in doors as he went, trying to locate either Grids or someone he could use as bait. So far, he hadn't had any luck.

o.o.o.o

Demeter stared at Cori in shook as he started picking up weapons. "You can't be thinking of going back out there. There's at least three vamps in the hall, let alone how many else in the building."

The librarian glanced out of the window in the door, "I'm the Watcher. I'm responsible for her. I have to go, Demeter."

"Be careful," she murmured, putting a hand on his arm.

He hesitated, looking down at her hand before turning back to the door and starting to move one of the cabinets away from it, "Push these back the minute I'm-" He whirled, raising the axe in his hand as something crashed through one of the ceiling tiles, "Grids!" He lowered the axe, setting it aside and going over to her as she got to her feet, "You're all right."

"How are the others?" Demeter asked.

Grids moved over to the cage, starting to shove weaponry into her bookbag, "Snyder, my mom, Misto and four others are locked in the science room across the hall. Bomba left before this all started, so I think she's... where's Tugger?"

"He got out through the stacks. He's getting Mac," came Cori's reply.

"Good. After I take out the vamps in the hall you two can get my mom and the others out that way, too." She hefted the pack and kicked a chair over under the hole in the ceiling, getting up on it.

Coricopat stopped her for a brief moment, "I should go with you."

She drew a deep breath and looked him straight in the eye, "Cori, my mother is in that classroom. If I don't make it, I know you'll make sure she does."

He swallowed, "Bloody well right I will. What's your plan?

"They split up to hold us here. So I can take 'em one on one. Set 'em up, knock 'em down." She hefted herself back up into the ceiling.

The librarian looked up at the hole for a moment, murmuring, "Watch your back…"

o.o.o.o

Watching Snyder pace back and forth wildly, Mistoffelees felt like climbing up after Grids rather than deal with him.

"Why don't you sit down?" Jenny finally asked.

Snyder whirled to face her, "This is my school. What I say goes. And I say this isn't happening."

"Right," Mistoffelees said from his corner. "I'm sure all the bad people will go away now. No more danger here."

Snyder scowled at him as one of the parents spoke in a panic, "I'm not waiting for them to break down the doors. I'm getting out."

"Don't be an idiot!" Jenny said just about the same time Mistoffelees planted himself in front of the door.

"I'm beginning to see a certain mother-daughter resemblance," Snyder remarked as both he and the parent got up on chairs to pull at the metal bands over the window.

Mistoffelees gaped at them for a moment. "Hey, no! Don't do that!"

"You heard what Grids said," Jenny added.

Snyder turned to face them as the parent continued his frantic prying, "She's a student. What does she know?"

"A lot more than you," Mistoffelees snapped back. Even Jenny looked slightly surprised at him. "Look, there are dangerous people out there. And lots of them and I am not kidding here, don't go out there."

Snyder just gaped at him, his eyes darting past the student as glass could be heard breaking in the hall and a fire axe started chopping through the door.

The teen turned to stare at the axe for a long moment, curing under his breath. "Why does our school have axes in the hall?"

"Isn't it regulation?" Jenny asked.

"We need new regulations I'm thinking," Mistoffelees replied.

The parent had been ignoring them and finally managed to get enough of the bars peeled back to try and get out. He was about halfway out before he was literally pulled through the window, screaming. Snyder startled back away from the window.

Shaking his head and cursing again, Mistoffelees ran up, Jenny following him, to slam the metal bars back down. "You idiot!" Mistoffelees snapped again, Jenny putting her back against the window and trying not to feel a little sick.

o.o.o.o

The vampire in the hall was making rapid progress on the door, almost through it, calling to another one around the corner to keep an eye out. Grids dropped from the ceiling, slamming a stake into his back and straightening, glancing through the axe hole to check on the people inside, "Are you all alright?" she murmured.

"Fine," Mistoffelees replied. "Mostly. Those of us alive are fine."

"Grids?" Jenny called. "Oh, Grids, are you okay?"

She nodded, "Yes, Mom, I'm fine. Just hang on another minute, I'll let you know when you can open the door."

"Be careful," Mistoffelees told her.

"Always am." She turned down the hall, withdrawing a sharp stake and starting toward where she knew the other vampire in this wing to be.

From behind her, the door opened and Shelia slipped in. Grids startled at the sound and turned, "Sheila! Where've you been?"

"Sorry I'm late," she said, waving a hand vaguely as if to dismiss the question. "There are some really weird guys outside."

"Yeah, they're trying to kill us," Grids told her.

Looking around, the girl hefted up the fire axe. "This should be fun at least." Grids offered her a smile and then turned her back to head for the vampire around the corner.

o.o.o.o

Tugger and Mac approached the school, seeing the body of the dead parent. "So, do you have a plan?" Tugger asked as Mac suddenly grabbed him by the collar and dragged him toward the school. "Um, good plan?"

Jerrie was on his way back to the lounge. He was planning to check a few more doors on the other hall. He paused as the exterior door burst open, "Macavity? Well, I'll be damned."

Tugger mouthed the name, glancing back up at Mac, not sure he'd ever heard the full title before. If he had, he'd forgotten.

"Jerrie," Mac replied, slinging an arm around the shorter vampire in some sort of hug without releasing Tugger. "What have I told you about guarding your perimeter? You should have someone on the door."

Jerrie returned the half-embrace before stepping back. "I did. I'm surrounded by idiots. But what's new with you?"

"Everything," the auburn haired vampire replied simply.

"You come up against this Slayer yet?"

"She's real cute. Not all that bright though," Mac shook his head slightly. Totally feel for that whole 'oh I'm so tortured' act. Keeps her totally off my back."

"You mean to tell me people still fall for that Anne Rice routine? What a world," Jerrie laughed, shaking his head.

"I knew you were lying you... undead liar guy," Tugger muttered, trying to kick his shin.

Jerrie raised an eyebrow, "Who's this, Macavity?"

"One of her posse," Mac replied. "Other one might have been tastier, but he tends to be smarter."

"Can I say again how much I've always hated you?" Tugger asked.

"So, you brought bait with you then?" Jerrie grinned, "Good to know you still think ahead..." He considered the other vamp, "Strangely though, I would have thought you'd lost your touch. Ain't seen you in the killing fields for an age."

Mac shrugged at that, still keeping a firm hold on Tugger without allowing himself to be kicked. "You know me, boy. I prefer that personal touch. Massacres only ever did so much for me. Subtly is the word, remember?"

"Yeah I remember." He looked him over, "So why are you so scared of this Slayer, hm?"

"You think I'm scared?" Mac demanded, sounding aghast.

"Yeah, I do. There was a time you would have taken her out in a heartbeat. Especially if she's falling for that sappy routine, she's got her guard down. Now look at you, skulking around here with bait. This tortured thing is an act, right? You're not actually housebroken, are you?"

"She killed the Master," Mac replied with a shrug, Tugger almost pointing out that Mac had been hanging around a lot longer before that. "You wanna take her alone, be my guest."

Jerrie held up his hands, "Don't be silly. We're old friends after all. We'll do it together. Let's drink to it," he motioned to Tugger.

"Sure," Mac replied with a shrug, holding Tugger still, though it was a hard feat considering how much he was twisting and kicking.

Jerrie grinned, leaning down to take a taste, pausing with his fangs almost touching Tugger's throat. He drew back quickly and slugged Mac in the jaw. "You think you can fool me? You were my sire, man… you were my Yoda!"

Mac shrugged, pulling Tugger back with him, suddenly protecting the boy. He adjusted to the new situation more quickly than Tugger could get his mind around it. "Times change."

"Not us. Not demons. Man, I can't believe this!" Jerrie shook his head, glancing back at where a couple of other vampires had finally been drawn to the lounge. Mac took a look at the other vamps, pushed Tugger toward the door and slugged Jerrie hard across the face.

Jerrie stumbled back, but came at Mac with a snarl, calling to the other three, "This isn't a spectator sport!"

Kicking him hard in the stomach to buy a second more, Mac grabbed Tugger again and made like mad for the door, slamming it after them on the way out.

o.o.o.o

Grids stopped at the corner of the halls, taking aim with the stake and readying it to throw, murmuring to Sheila, "Stay behind me."

"Sure thing," the other teen said, face shifting suddenly into vampire mode, raising the axe behind Grid's head.

Coricopat was checking to see if it was possible to get the people out of the classroom down the hall and saw this, calling out, "Grids! Behind you!"

The teen whirled just in time to catch the handle of the axe and keep it from splitting her skull open. She could hear the vamp from the other hall barreling toward her and she slammed the side of the axehead into Sheila's jaw, taking her down long enough to whirl and swing the axe at her original target who ducked. He straightened with a grin which quickly crumbled into dust-she'd thrown the stake at the same time as she'd swung the axe. She turned back toward Sheila.

Growling, the teen vampire turned and ran away. Grids watched her go before moving back to the classroom door, "It's clear, come on, now!"

Mistoffelees helped her usher the others through the hallway toward Cori. "You're coming too," Jenny insisted.

Grids shook her head, "In a minute. Please, go." She turned and headed toward the lounge before her mother could protest.

Coricopat directed them toward the back of the library and the exit back there. Mistoffelees stopped in the library, glancing at Demeter and back to Cori. "What are we doing then?"

Cori nodded toward the stacks, "There's an exit back there. We're seeing these people get to safety and then worrying about Grids."

"Well, yes. Anything specific beyond getting them out?"

"Once the coast is clear call the police department for the bodies and to take stock of the damage," came the reply.

"Right. Helping Grids?" Mistoffelees asked.

He nodded, "Once we've seen this lot safely off of school grounds." Mistoffelees nodded, suddenly aware that Jenny was staring at them. Cori paused and turned toward her, "Ma'am?"

Mistoffelees blinked. "So, should get you off campus..."

"No," she said, shaking her head. "Not until Grids goes."

"Mrs. Summers, your daughter will be fine. She's asked that we see you off-campus," Cori spoke softly.

"Like hell," she replied, crossing her arms over her chest.

The librarian looked her over, recognizing Grids' stubbornness as hereditary, "Ma'am, please. She can't do this if she's worrying about you, or us."

"No way," she replied. "And you very well can't make me."

Mistoffelees opened his mouth almost saying they could have and deciding not to. Coricopat studied the set of her jaw and nodded very slightly, "Then at least stay here where there are doors you can lock."

"The book cage is a good plan as well," Mistoffelees offered.

Cori nodded his agreement, glancing toward the stacks, "I have to see that they get out. Mistoffelees, are you coming?" He nodded, trailing after the librarian.

o.o.o.o

Jerrie watched as the three vampires who had come to check on the lounge took off after Mac and Tugger. He picked up a piece of rebar and started after them, but paused as he heard a door open. He smirked, not turning, "Fe fi fo fum. I smell the blood of a nice ripe girl." The vampire turned to face Grids who held a throwing axe.

"Do we really need weapons for this?" She asked, looking him over.

He shrugged, "I just like 'em. Make me feel all manly." Even as he spoke he tossed the rebar aside, watching as she did the same with the axe, "Y'know, the last Slayer I killed, she begged for her life. I don't see you as the begging kind."

"You shouldn't have come here."

"Yeah, yeah, I messed up your doilies and stuff. But I just got so bored! Tell you what. As a personal favor from me to you. I'll make it quick. It won't hurt a bit." He grinned at her, baring his fangs.

"Wrong. It's gonna hurt a lot."

Jerrie hesitated for a brief moment before hurling himself at her, fast enough that she almost didn't get her guard up. The two of them found themselves pretty evenly matched, exchanging blow for blow and each giving as good as they got while never really causing lasting damage to the other. They both eventually started to flag a bit, Jerrie's lack of need for oxygen giving him an advantage finally as Grids found herself growing not only tired but winded.

The vampire pressed his advantage as much as he could, sending a vicious set of blows the Slayer's way. She stumbled back, apparently reeling from the last one. As the vamp closed in she dodged, his hand going through the wall instead of her skull. She locked her hands and slammed them down on the back of his neck.

Jerrie snarled, "Now that hurt!" He yanked his hand out of the wall, along with a broken 2x4 stud, "Not as much as this will, though." He swung it, hard, catching his opponent across the face and sending her crashing to the floor. He grinned as he approached the winded Slayer, raising the stud over his head to split her skull open.

Before he could do anything more, the axe suddenly crashed against the back of his head. "You get the hell away from my daughter," Jenny growled.

Jerrie stumbled away, falling to the ground and glanced toward the broken window. Grids managed to get to her feet, picking up the beam he'd dropped. The vampire determined that in this case discretion was the better part of valor and shook his head, "Women." He took off, leaping out the window and heading for the warehouse.

Grids turned to her mom, wide-eyed and still out of breath, "Mom...you..."

"Nobody hurts my baby girl," Jenny said, breath a little short. Grids dropped the plank and moved to hug her mom, as soon as the axe Jenny was holding was dropped. Her mother embraced her hard.

Grids took a shaky breath, "G-god, Mom...are you alright?"

"I'm fine. I was hiding most of the time, what about you?"

She nodded, "I'm fine. I'll be fine."

"Good, should we get home?"

"Yeah, I think so…" Griddlebone managed.

Slinging an arm over her daughter's shoulders, Jenny started leading her daughter home. "Say, Mom?"

"Yeah honey?"

"What did Principal Snyder want to talk to you about?"

"He said you were a trouble maker. But I could honestly care less. I have a daughter who can take care of herself. I don't care what fights you get into or if you skip classes sometimes. I'm going to sleep better knowing that."

Grids leaned her head on her mom's shoulder, offering her a smile, "Thanks, Mom. I'll try to get to class more. And I try not to fight too much..."

"Well, improvements are good," her mother said, grinning. "No one's perfect after all."

o.o.o.o

As sirens sounded, Tugger and Mac did one more look around the perimeter, making sure all the vampire's were gone. "So, you were just bluffing?" Tugger asked, still put out with being used as bait.

"Of course I was just bluffing," Mac replied, rolling his eyes. "Do you really think I wanted to eat you?"

"Hey, I'll let you know I'm totally eatable! I'm sure I'd be quite tasty," Tugger protested.

The vampire gave him a long look. "Right, yes, you're right, I'm sure you'd taste great. That wasn't actually my point." He paused for a moment. "You still really don't trust me, do you?"

"You're a vampire," Tugger replied as if it really was that simple.

"I'd never do anything to hurt Grids," Mac replied, running a hand through his hair. "Hurting you would hurt her. I think we're done here."

"Great," Tugger said, still looking like he didn't believe a word the vampire said. "I'm heading out then. I think there's some ice cream with my name on it, just waiting to give me comfort." Arching a brow, Mac nodded and slide off into the darkness before Tugger had even finished. Looking around, Tugger sighed. "You could at least wait for people to finish speaking, Batman," he groused as he turned his own steps home.

o.o.o.o

Cassandra keened softly when Jerrie entered the warehouse, fluttering over to him. "Did she hurt you, baby?"

He winced a little bit as he half shrugged, "I was close, baby, but..."

"Come here," she held out his arms, and stroked his hair. "Sh, sh."

He rested his head against her shoulder, sighing, "A Slayer with family and friends. That sure as hell wasn't in the brochure."

"You'll kill her. Then we'll have a nice party," Cassandra soothed.

Jerrie responded absently, his gaze locked on where the Anointed one stood, "Yeah, a party."

The boy glared at him. "With streamers and everything," Cass continued.

"How's the Annoying one?" he cut in.

"He doesn't want to play," she pouted.

He sighed, straightening. "Figures. Suppose I'd better go make nice..." He stepped away, moving over and staring down at the child who barely came up to his waist. He finally went down on one knee.

"You failed," the small vampire snapped.

Jerrie grit his teeth, keeping his head bowed, "Yeah, I, uh, I offer penance..."

"Penance?" one of the vampires snarled. "You should offer your life. Our numbers are depleted and the feast of St. Vegious is ruined!"

"Why should I forgive you?" the child asked.

Jerrie drew a deep breath, attempting to swallow his pride, "It was… rash… and if I had to do it all over again" and failing to swallow said pride, "Ah who am I kidding? I'd do it exactly the same, only I'd do this first." Before any of the other vampires could think about moving, Jerrie was on his feet and he'd grabbed the Anointed One, hauling him over to the cage in the middle of the room and hurling him into it, slamming and locking the door.

He backhanded the one vampire who tried to stop him and reached for a meat hook. He caught it on the top of the cage and grabbed the other end of the chain, starting to haul the cage up toward a brilliant patch of sunlight streaming in from the one window they had yet to cover. "From now on, we're gonna have a little less ritual and a little more fun around here."

Cassandra clapped as the Anointed One screamed as sunlight flared over the cage.

Jerrie tied off the chain, grinning as he turned to take Cassandra's hand, "Let's go see what's on TV, Princess." Taking his hand, she flounced off with him, leaving only smoking remains of the Master's favorite protégée.

More and more characters are showing up to wreck havoc. This shall be quite enjoyable...

Thank you all who have left feedback, we always appreciate getting reviews. I will beg if that helps...