. . .
The Far Horizon
Chapter 2: The White Hats
It had been hours since the attack in the alley. They had driven back to the apartment, carried the unconscious wolf inside and laid him on the floor in the bathroom, covering him with a blanket, leaving a pile of clothes on the basin.
Faith and Dean sat on the old threadbare, brown couch in the middle of the clattered, cosy living room in the small downtown apartment. Looking up at the small group of people that surrounded them.
The older gentleman introduced himself as Mr. Giles, shaking their hands enthusiastically and offering them a cup of tea – which they both declined. The other two were around their own age. The girl, Nancy was tall and thin with limp brown hair, she was pretty but looked as though she hadn't smiled in years. Larry was even taller, and had the bulk of a man who had once played football. The gun at his feet was loaded.
Silence filled the air. Faith bit her lip as Dean tapped his foot on the floor impatiently.
"So," Giles said, clearing his throat and settled down on the ottoman. "I guess an introduction is in order?"
Faith took a deep breath. "I'm Faith," she said, giving everyone a small smile.
"Dean," her partner deadpanned.
"What on earth made you come here?" Larry asked in disbelief, shaking his head.
"We do this type of thing all the time."
"I take it you have heard of the problems this town is facing."
Dean and Faith nodded. "Yeah," she said, "It's all through the underground, and we thought we could make a difference."
"What made you think you could, when we've be trying to do the same for almost four years." Larry said angrily.
Dean smirked. "Well, I've been hunting demons for as long as I can remember, and Faith well…"
"I'm a Slayer" she said simply, not expecting any of them to react to that. A Slayer - she had found out since - was the bogeyman to the demon world. A girl with the strength, and speed to battle the forces of darkness, and there was only ever one.
But Giles surprised her. The older man's eyes widened and he spluttered, "Excuse me?" he asked in shock, taking his glassed off and giving them a quick clean. "Did you say you're a Slayer?" he asked, pushing his glasses back up his nose.
"You know what a Slayer is?" Faith asked surprised, exchanging a look with Dean. The Hunter was equally as shocked. He hadn't even heard of a Slayer until he had met Faith, and he had been hunting demons since he was a child. What did this old man know about demons that he didn't?
Giles chuckled, shaking his head. Nancy and Larry exchanged a grin.
"I was – a long time ago – a Watcher," Giles said.
Shocked, her eyes widened, "What?" Faith snapped.
Giles nodded, "It's true. I know I don't look the part, not now at least" he said with a grin.
"The crossbow is new," she admitted, causing Giles to laugh again.
"Another Slayer?" Larry muttered, "Wow!"
"Cool," Nancy whispered under her breath.
"What do you mean 'another Slayer?" Dean asked, glancing at Faith. She hadn't explained this to him.
"A while ago, another Slayer came to town," Nancy said quietly.
"She didn't last long." Larry admitted.
Faith looked away, she knew the deal. It had been ingrained in her from the moment her Watcher came to train her the day she was first Called. A Slayers life was not long, nor was it safe. The average lifespan for a Slayer was just over two years. She hadn't even been a Slayer a year and already she could feel the weight of the world upon her shoulders. How many people depended on her, how many people looked to her to protect them? It was rare for a Slayer to make it past five years of service, and virtually unheard of for a Slayer to reach ten. Her old watcher knew of only one, in the millennia the council had been keeping records.
One.
That was a lot of dead Slayers.
She knew the odds weren't good for a long happy life, but she'll be damned if she went quietly, or without a fight. She had no intention of going soon, not with so much to do. She glanced at Dean and smirked, and so many places to do it in.
"What?" Dean said, noticing her grin.
Faith shook her head. "Nothing," she muttered quickly.
As they had been talking the night had grown long, it was past midnight now and the moon had reached the zenith of his path across the sky. The bathroom door opened, and a ruffled head appeared.
They fell silent, watching as the young man stepped out and closed the door behind him. He was not at all like the others. He was short, with red hair and bright blue eyes that hid a sharp mind, and a wild wolf that only showed its face at the full moon.
They owned their lives to the wolf that now smiled nervously at them. "I'm Oz," he said, in a low voice as he walked into the living room and offered them a hand to shake. "Sorry I didn't get to introduce myself earlier."
"Ah…no worries." Dean muttered with a relaxed shrug.
Faith didn't say anything. Just continued to look at Oz curiously. She had been a Slayer for almost a year, helping Dean for almost half that time. She had yet to meet a Werewolf. Though she had known of their existence. They weren't as common as Vampires, and unlike most of the demons she hunted, a werewolf was only a danger during the full moon. The rest of the time a werewolf was a normal human.
It made the werewolf a unique beast amongst the supernatural beings that roamed this earth. Was it a monster, or human? Something to kill – or something to be pitied? Faith frowned. She wasn't sure. Oz didn't seem evil to her though, and she had always been a good judge of character - no matter what her mother used to say.
"Thanks, for helping us out last night." She said a little reluctantly. "Not sure we would have gotten out of it in one piece if you hadn't showed up."
Oz shrugged, "No problem."
"Are you hungry?" Nancy interrupted the conversation quietly. Oz nodded and the other woman got up and walked into the kitchen, Oz following.
Faith sighed softly. She turned her attention back to Giles, who was watching her solemnly through his glasses
"What brought you here?" she asked, getting back to their earlier conversation. "I thought most Watchers kept away from the field, studying the Occult when they didn't have a Slayer to train."
Giles smiled sadly. "It's been a long time since I have followed the traditional ways of the Watcher. I came out here about four years ago now, I was waiting – I thought the Slayer at the time would be here. But plans changed, and she was called elsewhere. I stayed, because the people here needed me." He took a deep breath and let it out with a sigh. "Just over a year ago she came here on her Watchers orders, I tried to help, tried to warn her – but she didn't listen."
"What happened?" Dean asked.
"She died," Giles said sadly. "I suppose that was when you were called?" he asked, directing this question to Faith.
The brunette nodded quickly. "Yeah," she muttered.
"How?" Dean asked.
"A Vampire. A very old, very powerful vampire." Giles said.
"The one running this town?"
"The same." Giles confirmed. "He's ancient, the oldest vampire I have ever heart of. The Master of the Order of Aurelius, - it's a very powerful vampire family. He is so old he's grown past his human features, and can no longer hide amongst the human population."
"Well that's one thing at least," Dean said. "At least the bloodsucker will be easy to find"
"Where is his nest?" Faith asked.
Giles shook his head. "Are you sure you want to do this?"
Faith nodded. "I'm sure. It's what Slayers do right? May as well kill as many as I can before…" she stopped and cleared her throat.
"Hey," Dean snapped. "Don't talk like that. You've got me."
"And us," Oz said, piping up, walking back from the kitchen with Nancy in his wake, a plate with a stack of sandwiches in his hands. He put the plate in the centre of the coffee table and snagged a half before sitting down on the floor.
Larry nodded, as he reached out to grab some food. "You won't be going in alone, not like the last girl. We'll help. We've been fighting for this town long enough not to sit back now."
"I don't want anyone to get hurt because of me," Faith admitted in a small voice, she hadn't had friends when she was younger, she wasn't about to start now.
"Don't worry about us," Oz said, "We can take care of ourselves. We've been fighting these things for years now."
"We're old hats at it, I dare say," Giles offered with a small smile. Causing Dean to choke down a laugh as he tried to swallow a bite of his sandwich.
Even Faith smiled. "Ok," she said. Reluctantly, admitting defeat.
Giles cleared his throat, turning the conversation to another topic. "Forgive my intrusion, young lady but I must ask. But is your Watcher still with us?"
Faith shook her head. "No, she's been dead for a while now. She was killed not long after I was Called."
"How much did you learn?"
"Enough to get by, Dean's taught me more," Faith inclined her head in her partner's direction, "he's a hunter, been fighting since he was a kid."
"My dad got me into it after my mom was killed by a demon," Dean said around a mouthful of bread and ham. "I've been all over the country."
"That's interesting," Larry said, "What kind of demon?"
"A yellow eyed one, Azazel."
"Good Lord!" Giles muttered, his eyes widening. "I thought he was a myth."
Dean gave a harsh laugh. "Don't all myths have a basis in facts?"
"I don't understand," Nancy admitted quietly, I thought a lot of demons have yellow eyes.
Giles shook his head, "May I explain?" he asked Dean politely.
"Go ahead," Dean said in amusement.
"There are many types of demons that roam this earth. In the beginning Demons ruled this earth, but many of those who ruled then have been banished to other dimensions or the Deeper Well. Now the demons that roam this earth are tainted, or human/demon hybrids like vampires. Some demons however possess humans, and those demons are infinitely more dangerous than the ones we fight here on a daily basis. For one they can hide better, the other they can come and go as they please, leaving their human host either dead or completely unaware of what they have done."
"The demon Azazel is one of these demons." Giles continued. "Legend goes he was once a Roman Centurion in life, corrupted by greed and power he turned upon his own men, and landed a place in hell beside Lucifer himself."
"So, I take it he's bad news" Oz deadpanned.
"Been hunting him for years now," Dean said, "The moment we get close he jumps ship, possessing a new vessel and slips away again."
"Bugger…" Larry breathed, "That's rough man. I hope you get him.'"
"Yeah, I do too – for mom's sake ya know?"
Everyone in the room nodded. They all knew what it was like to lose a loved one, either family or friend to the evilness that was the creatures they hunted.
"Can you take us to his nest?" Faith asked," I want to know what we're up against before confronting him tomorrow night."
"Tomorrow night?" Giles repeated with a gasp, "Are you sure, don't you want more time to prepare?"
Dean shook his head, "Don't normally get this much time," he admitted, "The longer we take the more people he's gonna kill. That's not something I like to deal with."
"It's part of the gig," Faith added.
"Fine fine, but let's plan this to the letter," Giles said.
"I'll be a wolf tomorrow," Oz added.
"Do you have any control during the full moon?" Faith asked curiously. "I thought werewolves didn't, or couldn't control themselves."
"Most don't" Oz told them, "and it took me a long time to gain that control. But I've been working on it. It helps that the wolf is as distrustful of vampires as I am."
"We're careful." Giles adds.
"Yeah, we always take the tranquilizer gun just in case, only needed it a few times."
Faith and Dean glanced at one another. Considering their options. Finally Faith shrugged. "Hey, as long as he doesn't go scratching or humping my leg I'm five by five," she said with a grin, causing the others to laugh.
Dean nodded, "Never had a wolf on my team before, this could be interesting."
. . .
On the other side of town. In a former nightclub known as The Bronze the Master sat in in his thrown-like chair in the centre of the stage and surveyed the two blonde vampires as they stood before him.
The first had been human three months ago. His vampires were not known for their restraint, and it had only been the girl's looks that had seen her find her place amongst the undead. In that time she had proved to him to be a shallow creature, immature, and vain. She wasn't exactly the sharpest.
The other however was his most favoured Childe. Darla. For four hundred years she had been at his side, fighting alongside him, being his companion when all others failed him.
In return for her loyalty he gave her her freedom, allowing her to explore the world – and devour those in her wake. She had spent the better part of a hundred years away from him, in the company of others. But that was gone now. Her companion a pile of dust, his exploits as one of the most feared vampires in history a footnote in the dusty pages of a century old journal.
To have her standing before him, with a worried look on her otherwise flawless face was troubling.
She took a step towards him, opening her mouth to speak when he raised his hand, palm out. She stopped and held her tongue. The Master turned to the fledgling standing next to him. "Get the others," he instructed the new vampire. Who nodded and raced from the room.
Darla frowned, but waited patiently.
"Is this going to take long?" Harmony asked quietly.
"Ssshh," Darla hissed.
Harmony huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. In the chair in front of them the Master smiled lazily. He had turned Harmony himself. Darla knew what he had been trying to do, the resemblance between them was a little too close for comfort, the same blonde hair and blue eyes, the same pale skin. They were even the same height.
But Darla wasn't about to be upstarted by some bimbo newbie. She hadn't lived this long for nothing.
Behind her the door opened and the fledgling returned, two older vampires trailing him.
"Blondie Bear!" She heard Harmony exclaim excitedly from behind her.
Spike and Drusilla weren't the most cunning vampires she had met. But they had their perks. They were entertaining to say the least, and new how to get the job done. Drusilla was a little unpredictable – not that you could blame her. While Spike liked to rush in swinging, no planning needed. Both would be assets if it came to a real fight.
For the first time in a century Darla found herself grateful for their company. They both eyed her curiously when they got closer.
"Someone new is making trouble." Dru said forlornly, wringing her hands together nervously.
Spike put his arm around his lover's shoulders. "It will be ok ducks, you'll see." He turned his blue eyes in Darla's direction. "What's going on?" he hissed out of the corner of his mouth.
Darla shook her head frantically, looking up in the Masters direction.
He was staring down at them impassively, his red eyes unreadable.
Spike gulped and removed his arm from around Dru's shoulders. Taking her hand he tugged her around until they were both standing side by side, with Darla on his other side.
"Sorry," he muttered under his breath glancing at the floor.
The Master nodded, pleased at their response. They were of his line, of Darla's line. But neither had spent time in his presence before. They were both over a hundred and fifty years old, Dru closer to two hundred then Spike was. But both vampires still acted like fledglings, ignoring rules and protocols, and risking his deadly wrath.
Now was not the time however, and he let the indiscretions pass. For now.
He turned his attention back towards Darla. Who was waiting patiently for him to begin. "Go on," he encouraged, his permanent fangs doing nothing to hinder his refined dictation.
Darla took a deep breath. "I found this, amongst a pile of vampire remains," she explained, holding out the stake.
Slowly - his red eyes fixed upon her own - the Master reached out and pulled the weapon from her grasp. Settling back into his seat as he examined it carefully. "A Stake," he murmured, amusement colouring his voice. "Well, well, well. That does make it interesting."
"I think a Slayer is in town," Darla confirmed.
The Master nodded. "Yes, it would appear to be the case."
"What do you want me to do? I can send everyone out – flush her into the open."
"No," he interrupted.
"Excuse me?" Darla asked, her eyebrows coming together in confusion –certain she didn't hear him right.
The Master shook his head. "Leave her be, I want to see what happens next."
"But, Master. She is a Slayer," Darla whispered cautiously.
"She brings destruction!" Dru wailed, causing Spike to pat her hand reassuringly.
"Apparently that's a really bad thing," Harmony piped up helpfully.
Darla sent the younger vampire an appalled look as the Master chuckled in amusement. "You are quite right my dears, quite right. But, you see a Slayer is still just one girl."
"They are always alone," Spike added, nodding up at the Master in agreement. "It's part of the package."
"You have a plan?" Darla asked curiously.
"I have a plan," he confirmed. "I intend for her to come to me."
Spike was dubious when he asked, "What if she doesn't take the bait?"
The Master smiled again, "In that case, I believe something special should be on the menu for tomorrow night."
"Oh!" Harmony gasped excitedly, "A party! I love parties!"
. . .