Birthright
Chapter 4: Interference
"I can see why Goodwyn was concerned."
Cedric hastily put some distance between himself and Sofia while turning his attention to the unfamiliar voice.
"And you are?" he drawled, though he had the sinking suspicion that he already knew exactly what the woman had come for and why.
Sofia, clearly still in fight or flight mode, and understandably so, planted herself between Cedric and the stranger, raising her stake defensively until Cedric patted her on the shoulder, reassuring the girl despite his own raw nerves.
"I am Emily Pratt, a representative of the Council. I've come to review a conduct complaint by a former Watcher", she introduced herself, pushing her glasses up higher on the bridge of her nose as she regarded the pair. Her steely gaze settled on Sofia first. "Care to tell me why the vampire you were fighting is now running free amongst the general population?" Emily interrogated, her eyes piercing straight into Sofia.
"I… there were…" Sofia floundered for an explanation, and Cedric squeezed her shoulder lightly.
"I can answer that. It was her first time fighting more than one vampire at a time. I'd say she did rather well, considering she received no formal training before this morning." Cedric's voice was strong and defiant, practically daring the councilwoman to argue the point, and Sofia was taken aback by this unusual display of brash confidence from her usually reserved friend.
"Besides, my Watcher was in danger", Sofia added, unable to see Cedric grimace from where she stood.
"Which brings me to my next question", Emily stated, pointedly shifting her eyes from Sofia to Cedric. "What exactly were you doing out here fighting vampires like some sort of rogue vigilante?"
There was no good answer for that and Cedric knew it. He was also aware that remaining silent would garner him no extra favour with the woman, so he decided that even a bad response was better than none at all. "I was protecting my Slayer."
Sofia reached up to touch his hand in a show of appreciation, but he discreetly tugged it away.
"Watchers are trained in combat for the sole purpose of passing that knowledge on to their charges, not so they can go out hunting demons themselves. Your blatant disregard of the Council's rules endangered not only yourself, but also your Slayer and the entire population of this village", Emily persisted.
"Did you miss the part where I would have died had he not distracted Benjamin?" Sofia blurted out incredulously.
Emily remained unfazed, and Cedric knew why this information did nothing to sway her perception of the incident. Slayers perished all the time, particularly inexperienced ones. To the Council this was no more than a slight nuisance, a basic fact of life. A Slayer's death was like the rising and setting of the sun, expected and unremarkable. In the ancient battle between the forces of good and evil, the ever increasing body count of these girls meant less than nothing. And I was no better than them, he lamented his previous stance on the matter. His blood boiled, and he could feel the tick in his jaw, but he held his tongue because it was in Sofia's best interest not to be reassigned to a more 'proper' Watcher, one who shared and upheld the Council's views.
"That is not my concern, Miss Balthazaar", Emily replied, readjusting her glasses again.
"What is your 'concern', then?" Sofia demanded petulantly before turning her back on the Councilwoman to speak to Cedric. "What is this all about?" she asked him, her tone softer now that she was addressing her long time friend.
"Be still", Cedric hissed.
"You'd be wise to listen to your Watcher. I've already decided to be lenient, and I doubt you wish to change my mind", Emily informed Sofia. "Cedric, you will receive a formal reprimand and be placed under probationary measures, effective immediately."
Sofia gasped, her eyes flying wide as she spun on her heels to face the older woman again. "Is that what passes for leniency with the Council? That's the most ludicrous thing I've ever heard in my life! I–" She never got a chance to finish her protests, though.
"Enough, Sofia!" Cedric growled out, promising himself that he would apologise profusely for snapping at her the next time they were alone.
"Take your Slayer back to the palace, train her properly, and do not let me catch you engaging in combat again or you will be removed from your post immediately", Emily instructed Cedric sternly, and he nodded. "I expect you both to conduct yourselves properly from now on."
She didn't mention the other reason for Goodwyn's concern, though Cedric was sure his father had brought it up in his complaint. At any rate, he didn't need to hear it to know that their relationship, too, would be a factor in his probation, and he was actually thankful to her for not addressing it in front of Sofia because he had the distinct impression that there would be no holding her back if she learnt that their affection for one another was what brought Emily here in the first place.
Finally grasping the gravity of the situation, Sofia snapped her mouth shut and simply stared as Emily took her leave, walking back down the path that led out of the cemetery. Cedric waited until she was out of sight to nudge Sofia, rousing her from her daze.
"Does she mean all of that? Can she really arrange it so you're not my Watcher anymore?" Sofia enquired.
Cedric nodded solemnly. "She does and she can. But let's not discuss it here", he whispered, worried that they may still be under the watch of the Council, even though they appeared to be alone. Producing his wand, he transported them back to his workshop, the only place he could trust that they wouldn't be overheard.
"You said it was all about fate!" Sofia spat out, directing her rage at him because there was nowhere else to aim it. "If that's true, then how can some– some… Emily just step in and decide that the universe chose wrong?"
"The Council has to do what they deem best", Cedric muttered the only answer he had, though he wasn't much in the mood to toe the mark at the moment.
Frankly, he'd prefer to indulge in her righteous fury. To hunt down Emily Pratt and give her the piece of his mind he'd carefully withheld during their meeting. But if they were going to get through this unscathed then one of them had to keep a level head, and from the looks of things it was not going to be Sofia any time soon.
"Best for who? For me?" Sofia questioned, pacing the floor.
"No", Cedric answered plainly.
Sofia's mouth formed into a small 'o' as understanding washed over her.
"Truth be told, the Council cares very little about what's best for you. If something happened there'd be another girl chosen, and another one after that", he admitted the truth he'd been trying so hard to shield her from.
"What about you?" She stopped close to him, her sapphire eyes searching his face, imploring him for something, though he wasn't sure what.
"You mean do they care about me? Maybe slightly more, but not much." Cedric shrugged. "I imagine my training was expensive, at any rate."
"No, not that." Sofia waved a dismissive hand between them, no longer interested in who or what the Council deemed important. "Do you think me… disposable?" she hiccoughed the last word, and Cedric grasped one of her hands, bringing her closer to him.
"Of course I don't. I already told you I won't let anything happen to you", he whispered, wrapping his arms around her. "You are my favourite person, Sofia."
"I'm going back out", she informed him, pulling out of his embrace.
"What?" Cedric furrowed his brow as he looked her over. "Why would you–"
"I'm going to find Benjamin and prove to the Council that I can do my job. That my Watcher… That you are exactly who I need beside me if I'm to do what they expect from me." Sofia was pacing again, her features set in determination, and Cedric was growing concerned.
"It's late and you're upset. What you need to do is go get some sleep", he told her firmly.
Sofia shook her head, hurrying to the back entrance.
"Sofia, I forbid you from going back out there!"
Her hand already on the brass handle, she paused and craned her neck to glance back at him. Cedric swallowed hard. He'd never spoken to her in such a way but he absolutely had to make her see reason.
"I'm sorry", she breathed, swinging the door open and disappearing through it.
Cedric stared at the door in aggravation as it swung shut behind her. He should follow her. The girl wasn't trained nearly enough to go wandering alone at night hunting vampires, nor was she in the proper state of mind to do so safely. To go after her could easily be seen as a violation of his probation though, and could result in his removal as her Watcher. Why hadn't she just listened to him for once in her life? Running a hand through his silvery bangs, he groaned in frustration as he continued his internal debate.
He hadn't known. In twenty-seven years, he never once stopped to consider that the Slayers were people, little girls with family and friends who adored them beyond belief. That when they selflessly left home to go out hunting monsters, waiting up for them were others who worried themselves sick because a loved one — perhaps the centre of their entire universe — was out doing gods-know-what at all hours. He never wondered about the utter devastation that descended upon the lives of those closest to a Slayer on the inevitable night when she didn't come home and never would again. Standing there in his tower with nothing but the deafening pounding of his heart to keep him company, he finally understood everything the Council refused to acknowledge. He hadn't known, hadn't cared to know, because it was so, so much easier not to.
...
For the second time that night, Sofia found herself standing at the entrance to the Dunwiddie cemetery. The large iron gates loomed ominously before her, demanding that she make a decision — push her way through and do what she came for or turn tail and flee, returning to Cedric's tower to beg his forgiveness for her impudence and admit she hadn't the courage to face a lone fledgling vampire without him. Considering the consequences they would both face if Cedric was caught helping her fight vampires again, the answer was painfully obvious. She'd have to apologise for making him worry about her, at any rate, but that would go much smoother when she returned a victorious Slayer and not a snivelling little girl. Gathering her nerve, she opened the gate and skirted quietly through.
When Benjamin fled their encounter earlier, he headed not out of the cemetery but deeper inside, and Sofia's instinct told her that he was still somewhere on the grounds. Though she wished Cedric was with her, she was glad in some small way that she needn't worry about him being harmed this time, freeing all of her focus for the battle to come.
Tuning in to the preternatural senses that led her to Benjamin's grave in the first place, she wandered the paths into the oldest parts of the graveyard, beyond crumbling stone and untended overgrowth, until she came to a halt in front of an enormous mausoleum, practically ancient when compared to the polished marble structures nearer to the gates. The doors were covered by ivy at some point but it was clear that the vines had been disturbed recently, and she was certain the vampire had torn them away to gain entrance to the building.
Drawing in a deep breath, she swung open one of the heavy doors and took a few hesitant steps inside. Her eyes adjusted to the darkness within, and it dawned on her that she'd made a terrible mistake.
Not one, but three vampires were gathered inside; Benjamin, another man, and a beautiful young woman who must've been scarcely be older than Sofia herself. All of them leered at her as she stood there, her mind screaming at her to flee as fast as possible.
"I… I'm sorry, I was looking for the wash room", Sofia blurted out the first lie that crossed her mind, scooting backwards towards the entrance.
Behind her, the door slammed shut and a pair of hands with grotesque yellowed nails sharpened into talons gripped her shoulders.
"That's her. The girl I was telling you about", Benjamin informed the others, pointing in Sofia's direction.
"Oh, this is no ordinary girl", Talon man drawled out, the metallic stench of his breath rising to offend Sofia's nostrils as he leaned in and took a long whiff of her hair. Or perhaps her throat. "This is a Slayer", he finished the assessment with a flourish, and Sofia willed herself not to tremble beneath his icy grip as his nails dug into her tender flesh. Though she considered herself a fairly brave girl, she was finding it inexplicably difficult to think, let alone attempt to break away, for the terror that the creature at her back inspired. "A pretty one, too."
"Let me have her, Sire", the female hissed out, advancing in their direction.
She didn't walk so much as glide effortlessly across the stone floor, leaving Sofia to question how she could possibly outrun the nimble woman if need be. The man behind Sofia chuckled darkly and one of his hands raised from her shoulder to wrap weathered fingers around her neck. Sofia swallowed hard, cringing at his touch, but as he closed his fist around her throat smoke began to rise and the fiend howled in pain. The cross. Oh, Sofia owed Cedric so much more than an apology now and, if she somehow survived this, she vowed to find some way to thank him properly for his gift. For the moment, the prudent thing to do was not allow this opportunity to escape the vampire's grip to go to waste.
The woman lunged at her, but Sofia learnt that she was, in fact, fast enough to dodge her attack, and even managed to trip her in the process. Reaching back, she retrieved one of the arrows from the quiver slung over her shoulder and used it to stake the fallen vampire — vampiress? — from behind, turning her into a pile of ash. One down…
A heavy weight landed on her back, and she dropped to the ground, hearing the vampire topple down beside her. Rolling onto her side, Sofia found herself face-to-face with the male vampire who had been standing next to Benjamin when she first entered the crypt. Reacting quickly, she raced to her feet and drove the same arrow into his chest, finding her mark easily and defeating him before he could stand. See, I can handle two vampires. A smug grin stretched across her face. If Emily Pratt were there she might have stuck her tongue out at the woman, not caring in the least if the gesture was rather childish.
Before she could spend long revelling in her achievement, Benjamin landed a hard punch through the falling ashes of his companion, causing her to drop the arrow and falter backwards. She ducked a second blow and kicked him in the kneecap, knocking down. While she was reaching for a fresh arrow so she could finish him off, the same gnarled hands grabbed her again, tugging her back against their owner's large body.
"That is quite enough, Slayer", he growled into her ear, lowering his face to the spot where her shoulder and neck connected, directly below the band of Cedric's choker. His pointed fangs grazed her, and she scrunched her eyes shut, preparing for the vision of her Watcher to be the last thing she ever saw.
A loud crashing sound came from behind and the vampire dropped to the ground. Sofia spun to investigate only to spy a hooded figure standing over the unconscious monster, pieces of a broken urn littering the floor around the latter. The mysterious stranger grabbed her arm roughly, dragging her through the doorway and back out into the cemetery, where the sun was just beginning to colour the horizon in rosy pinks.
"Wait, I can't go yet!" Sofia protested her own salvation, wrestling herself free of the gloved hand wrapped around her wrist. "I have to kill Benjamin, or Emily will… and that– that man", she insisted, trying to run back inside the mausoleum.
Behind her, the would-be rescuer whispered something and, when she glanced over her shoulder to ask what they'd said, she suddenly grew very dizzy. Her vision faded to darkness and the last sensation she was cognisant of was being caught gently right before she could hit the ground.
...
"Sofia… Sofia, wake up."
That voice. She knew that wonderful baritone, the one that had spent years patiently guiding her — first as an apprentice and now as his Slayer. Sofia opened her eyes, wincing in the harsh daylight. Her head throbbed terribly and it was difficult to focus her blurred sight on the man leaning over her, his face contorted in overwhelming concern.
"Cedric?" Sofia squeaked. She struggled to sit, but everything ached and she was forced to give up.
"What were you thinking running off like that? You could have been killed!" he admonished her. "You… You scare me to death, girl!"
Sofia concentrated on flashing him what she hoped could pass for a contrite smile, though it took all of her energy to do even this simple thing.
"I did say I was sorry" she offered weakly.
"Right, like that makes it any better", he grumbled.
Despite his complaints, his hand cupped her cheek, and she nuzzled against the rough fabric of his fingerless gloves.
"What happened?"
His silvery bangs and the distinct features of his face were starting to come into focus, though the scowl she received made her question if this was really a good thing.
"Damned if I know. When it got to be light out and you hadn't returned, I came after you. Found you lying on this bench, and it took at least a half hour to wake you."
This time, when Sofia tried to get up, he helped her and claimed the emptied space beside her on the wooden bench, keeping his arm encircled around her waist to steady her.
"I… I think there was someone else. Were they here when you found me?" Sofia glanced around, but there was no trace of the hooded person.
Cedric shook his head, studying her closely. She tried to remember the details of what had transpired, but the throbbing in her head made it impossible to concentrate.
"Take me home, please."
Cedric opened his mouth to say something, but snapped it shut and drew his wand from his robe, using the magical tool to transport them back to his tower where he deposited her into one of his chairs like she was a small child or some sort of invalid.5.10.18: Combined two chapters (formerly Emily and The Other) into one. Edited for typos and grammer.
4.9.18 Author's Note: So this chapter gained quite a lot in the rewrite, but it is still short by comparison. Nothing major has changed, just added insight into Sofia and Cedric's feelings about the situation. Especially Cedric, since his stance on everything he was taught since he was a child has taken a quite a hit ever since he discovered who, exactly, his Slayer is.
Original Author's Note: Short chapter today, only because this was the best place to end this update.
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5.9.18 Author's Note: I did what I could, but this chapter is still extremely short. Honestly, if it wouldn't break the site to merge this chapter with the last one, I would. Under the new "Season" format, this will conclude Season 1 of this story. Season 2 will run through Halloween, so be sure to check back.
31.10.17 Author's Note: Another short chapter, because I wanted to be sure to get this out by tonight. Happy Halloween, everyone!
