Slayers United
Chapter 46: Watcher's Pet
As I sat on the edge of my bed, I looked around the barren room. I had never done anything with the room because I was waiting for suggestions. I wandered down the steps and into the mass of slayers waiting. There was a deep part of me that just wanted to leave. To tell the slayers good luck and just move away. Every part of me ached. My eye was blackened, my lip was busted and I was a walking bruise. No amount of slayer power could heal me quickly after what I went through. I deserved better than this. I deserved to be asked before Giles or anyone else dumped slayers on me. My mind raced as I looked around at the girls, their incessant chatter was almost enough to drive me crazy. There were them and also the vampire standing next to the fire. Cale and Kelly had gone to get food for the girls and Doug and Gemma had begun to give seminars to the girls downstairs. It was fun, if you were a fifteen year-old girl...or, you know, a slayer in general. Two non slayers giving slayer advice, but they were good at the demon slaying.
"The mind of a slayer." Lestat smiled.
"Huh?" I asked.
"You seem to have a lot on your mind." Lestat said, stalking over to me.
"So, you got all that from me walking down the stairs?" I asked.
"No." he said quickly, "Your posture, your...aura."
"Aura?" I asked, "Why don't you tell me about my aura?"
"Darkness mixed with the light. All the pain, the pleasure...the loss." Lestat said, savoring my aura.
"Sounds way more interesting than some dumb ole' gypsy reading." I said nervously "Do you always do that?" Lestat asked.
"Do what?" I asked.
"Use sarcasm as a defense mechanism?" Lestat asked.
I looked at him oddly, "I guess. I mean, it's...." I paused and looked up at him, "I don't."
"I hope you have convinced yourself." Lestat said, walking away.
"So after all those years and study of what? Psychology, you still haven't mastered the English language? I mean, the way you talk is so 1800's."
He walked back to me, and stood really close, "Do you lust after me?" he asked, "I know you do."
"Oh yeah, what is that, more psychology?" I asked.
"No." he said, "It's the way I feel for you."
"You lust for me?" I asked, "What's the world coming to? What, do you have a soul? A death wish? Are you high?"
"I assure you, I am as put off as you are." Lestat said, mildly disgusted," It is not a gift."
"How do you...you don't even have a soul, do you?" I asked, looking him over.
"No, I do not." He said, "But I am no normal vampire."
"I see so does that mean you can fly and read my mind?" I asked.
Lestat was silent.
"Oh." I said, slowly coming to the realization that he wasn't the average vampire, "So, you could probably kill me at any time, so why do you keep saving me?"
"I lust for you." Lestat smiled, "You're uniqueness, and it's appealing."
"You've had hundreds of years, and I saw the movie...how was it?" I asked.
"You wish to taste the darkness?" Lestat asked.
"Who doesn't want to know what makes their enemies tick?" I asked.
"Ah, but it goes deeper than that, doesn't it?" Lestat asked, "It is the true essence of your power."
"I used to want to know." I said, "In my line of work...its better not to ask."
"It is no job." Lestat hissed, "Mortals. Always mistaking calling for a job. I have lived for centuries, studying humans. I love mortals, but your flaw is every human's flaw! You are afraid of what you can really do."
"I'm not afraid of anything." I said angrily, "I've got a group of girls to be training."
"Does it bother you to train the girls when you, yourself, are no older than most of them?" Lestat asked.
"Sometimes." I said, turning to the group of girls coming up from the basement.
"You are not like them." Lestat said, "You are unique."
"I'm just one in many." I said quickly.
"I don't lust after you." Lestat said.
"I know." I said quickly.
"I think..." Lestat paused.
I shook my head, "We wouldn't work." I said, walking away.
I slammed a vampire into the side of a crypt and, knocked him to the ground with a round-house, "Buffy sent you here with me. Not because you're the weak slayers, but you're the newbs. Lesson number one, danger is everywhere." I said, ducking an attack, and then kicking the vampire again, "Then I'm supposed to say something about who's got the power. It's supposed to be the vampire." Is aid, grabbing the vampire by the collar and jamming a stake through its heart, "But I think it's pretty obvious that we have the power." I smirked, causing them to cheer.
"So, how are you feeling?" Doug asked as we assembled in the Magic Store. Kelly took a seat by Cale, who stood with a book in front of him. Gemma sat in Doug's lap and I stood, leaning on the bookshelf.
"Me?" I asked, feeling the bruises all over my body and my black eyes.
"Yeah." Kelly smiled.
"I'm achy and stuff, so, normal. We heal pretty fast, so..." I stopped when I noticed them looking at me, "Kinda scared.
"You don't have to water it down, we're all pretty scared." Kelly said, offering a hug.
I chuckled, "Thanks, but you don't have a squad of super powered girls to lead into battle with a Hell God." I said quickly.
"I thought we were..." Gemma said, "Helping, I mean."
"You are helping but..." I stopped, "I don't feel connected to them, the other slayers. I thought I did. It's just a lonelier feeling. I'm not sure you can understand."
"Oh." Kelly said slowly.
"No, it's...a slayer thing." I said slowly.
"It's cool. I think we should go and study up." Kelly said.
"We'll help" Doug said, as he and Gemma followed Kelly.
"I really know how to put my foot in my mouth." I sighed, flopping down into the chair. "It's quite alright. We all do it." Cale said, shuffling crystals on the table, " I do believe I have a knick in this jewel." he said, flashing a jewel in front of my face, " Charming." he said, taking a syringe and sticking me with it. I didn't make a sound, just stared at the jewel, "Austin." he said, waving his hand in front of my face.
I snapped back into reality, "Sorry. I guess...Now where's this crystal thingy?" I asked.
"Um, it was just a reflection." Cale said, rubbing his arm around the surface, as if trying to clean it, "Maybe you should go home. I don't think you zoning out is a very good thing for slaying."
"I think you're right. I don't feel that good anymore." I smiled weakly, "Besides, I think One Tree Hill is on. I've missed it so."
"Good luck with all the slayers at home." Cale said, "How is that, by the way?"
"Hectic." I answered, "I think Buffy picked the wrong slayer to lead."
"You really believe that?" Cale asked.
"I don't know. I just got my ass handed to me by a Hell Goddess that used me as a wrecking ball and reminded me that I'm not as unbreakable as I thought. Now I've got to instill wisdom and hope into girls that I don't feel connected to." I said slowly.
"Maybe you were called before the other girls, you were in line next." Cale hypothesized, "They did say that Buffy was mortally wounded, did they not?"
"She never died. Well, not after the second time." I said, thinking, "Did she?"
"Perhaps you should call her and ask." He smiled.
I stood, "Anything's possible, right?" I asked, walking to the door," Later guys." I said, leaving.
I walked home, feeling less than the super slayer I was. I looked around and noticed how much this place reminded me of Sunnydale. I miss those moments. We will never get those moments back, ever. It was a little odd. As I continued to walk, I was met by a rather large, pale gentleman wearing a suit.
"Nice suit..." I said, pulling out my stake, "But you got a little death right...here!" I said, lunging at him, but he caught my hand. I looked from my hand up to him, scared.
"Now who's got a little death?" the vampire smirked, biting my neck.
"You." A voice said and I felt a vampire disintegrate. I looked back to see Cale, who grabbed me and draped my arms over his shoulder, "Are you okay?"
"I'm...I'm not a slayer anymore." I panted.
"What?" he asked nervously, "That makes no sense." He said, dragging me back to the store."
As we gathered in the Magic Store, I wondered how this could happen. I mean, I had not felt this...helpless since...I had never felt this helpless. Not really. With monsters at our throats every moment, everything was so much realer. The rest of the group was talking as I was thinking.
"He's powerless." Cale said, "A vampire attacked and he nearly died."
"Huh? Austin couldn't take a vampire?" Gemma said, "I knew one day this would happen."
"This is different." I said quietly, "I'm not just powerless, I'm defenseless. There is a Hell God out there and I cannot protect myself."
"Don't worry, we're all here." Doug said.
"Doug's right." Kelly smiled.
"Plus, there's gotta be somebody that's super strong...and, nevermind." Doug said quickly.
I felt like crying, but I didn't. I had cried and I was done.
"I guess I should have thought before I spoke," Doug said nervously, "You okay?"
"I started out with three people and I'm the only one left." I said retrospectively.
"But you do know you're not the only one, right?" Kelly asked.
I nodded, "I know and I'm grateful, but things are happening in the world." I said quickly.
"Something? I'd say big evil." Kelly said.
"So, you see why it's really bad to have me powerless?" I asked.
"How did you lose your power?" Doug asked.
"I don't know." I said, carefully, "I was fine, then I was talking to Cale and all of a sudden, I felt really bad, then left and...poof."
"Cale, what happened?" Kelly asked.
"I have no idea." Cale lied, "He was fine, then I went outside, because I thought he might need help and I saved him."
I heard something in his voice. He knew something and...and maybe I was being paranoid. I can admit that I was jumping to conclusions, but I was fine, then, all of a sudden, I wasn't? He was new and if Oz was here, he would have said the same thing. But he wasn't, was he?"
"I tried to contact The Scoobies, but they are in Tokyo." Doug said, "There's some kind of emergency."
"It's good; we need to figure this out by ourselves." I said, "We have some kick-ass people. Two or three witches, a magic efficiando, and Kelly, one of the smartest people I know."
"You have me." A voice said behind us. I turned to see Faith. All these feelings flooded me and I nodded. She just smiled, "I'll help."
Sinew threw a bottle of wine at the wall, causing the bottle to shatter and she walked to the other side of the room.
"That little puke!" Sinew screamed, "I hate this dimension! I cannot believe he did that! "The nerve!"
"I'm sorry, Mistress." A vampire hissed.
"Sorry?! Oh he doesn't know what sorry is! I'm gonna make this dimension my little stockyard, where all the cattle live. I'm gonna be the Sheppard in the valley of the damned...again." Sinew screamed, "I'm gonna make the slayer and his little pals pay! I'm going to use that witch as a lamp and rub my way to my dreams. And that vampire..."
"Traitor." The demon hissed, "Filthy traitor."
" I cannot believe it, first there are two ensouled vampires helping that Fluffy chick, now there's an unsouled one helping this slayer?!"
" Good news, oh shimmering greatness, Something is wrong with the slayer, his friend, the British man, saved him. He is weakened."
Sinew smiled, "So, I kicked the slayer right out of him, huh?" she smiled, "Saddle up, kiddies, we're going on a field trip." She smiled wickedly.
I stood by Faith, watching one of the slayers kick a vampire's ass. She was strong, smart, but too impulsive. She was unpredictable, yet predictable at the same time. I found myself oddly embracing her quickness and speed. I don't even know if I could do that when I have my slayer powers. She handed out jabs and kicks and smiled at her own quickness.
"She's pretty good, what's her story?" Faith said, obviously impressed by her too.
I shrugged, "I just got her." I said, "But she's something. Too bad in a few seconds, she won't be winning." I said, watching.
"Yeah, her defenses are too laxed." Faith said, watching.
A she finished the sentence, the slayer was thrown to the ground and I walked over, and staked him in the back. I missed the point and he swatted me away, causing me to fly several yards away! As I looked up, Faith had the vampire and pulled the stake from him, sliding it into his chest and causing him to disintegrate.
"Blimey, what `appened?" one of the slayers, Bria, asked.
"I'm less than slayer-ish right now." I explained, "Some mystical spell or something, my friends are on it."
"Are you alright?" Faith asked, helping me up.
"I'm good." I said, dusting myself off, "The important thing when being the slayer is to never be alone."
"But we are not alone, we ave each otha." Belle, another slayer replied.
"Back when there was only one slayer, loneliness was a bigger problem." I said quickly, "Still is, though. Remember the feeling of never being alone, hang onto it." I looked at Faith, "Cherish it."
"You sound like you know firsthand." Vanessa, yet another slayer, said insightfully.
"Look, I know when you got here, I was healing..." I said quickly.
"Unconscious." A slayer coughed.
"Right, whatever," I sighed, "Hell Goddess. Sinew. Faced her in the Heavenly plane, another dimension, lost a friend. Look, my best friend just left a few days ago and he's helped me ever since I left Buffy and the Scoobs. He's a werewolf. Cute, short...his hair is...hell, who knows what his hair color is this week." I looked to Faith, who had no idea.
"I think it was orange." My blood ran cold. I turned to see Sinew standing a few feet away and I stopped breathing for a moment, "Come on, usually you're so talkative. Don't tell me you've lost your voice."
"Faith, get the girls out of here." I said slowly.
"But what about you?" Faith asked.
" I'm the slayer, remember?" I said nervously.
I looked around and saw the vampires all around us.
"Not really anywhere to run, slayer." Sinew smiled.
"Then I fight." I scowled.
"Really? I was under the impression you were powerless..." Sinew smiled, "Plus, the rest of these meat bags are having trouble with simple vampires."
"That's awfully PC of you." I said quickly.
"Runnin out of words. My hands need something to do." Sinew smirked. As she began towards us, the vampires attacked! There was a clash of vampires and slayers and Faith grabbed me.
"Time to go, Jr." Faith shouted above all the fighting.
"No!" I shouted, "You have to go and help the girls!"
An arm grabbed me, "Yeah, we have a little talking to do." Sinew said, kicking Faith backwards, "I thought we'd just have a heart to hand."
"I think I'll pass." I said, punching her. My hand hurt a whole lot, but Sinew looked unphased.
"Ow. That hurt...That's sarcasm, right?" She smiled, pushing me so hard I flew yards back. She walked towards me, but as she did, everything froze, save for a few vampires who were dusted.
"What's this?" I asked.
"Me boyfriend." Gemma shouted, "Come on before the bitch unfreezes!"
We looked at each other and ran off towards her voice and the slayers ran ahead of me and I tried to keep up. As we got to the car, the scene unfroze, and as we began to move, something grabbed the car and we jerked to a stop and I looked back to see Sinew holding onto the car easily. Doug looked back and shouted something in Latin and the brunt of the spell took her off her feet!
"Take that, Goddess-Gone-Wrong." He said breathlessly.
As we sped off, I breathed a sigh of relief, "What's going on? The girls..." I said quickly.
"We rented an SUV. We decided if we're going to be taking care of slayers, we'd better get a bigger car." Doug explained, still out of breath, "But there's something we think you should know."
"What?" I asked.
"This `loss of power' is a test that the council used to us. The last person it was used on was Buffy Summers, in which it was aborted because the vampire they were using got loose in Sunnydale." Doug added.
"Oz..." I said in disbelief.
"No." Kelly said, "Another watcher, your new watcher."
"Okay, what?" I asked.
"The Council sent a new Watcher to...watch you. You're a rare commodity." Doug said, "They weren't supposed to use this anymore."
"So...who's makin with the mojo?" I asked
"Only one person was around when your powers were nicked, our newest brit." Gemma suggested.
"NO!" I said in disbelief.
"Yup, Cale." Kelly said, looking at me in the rearview mirror, "The newest British addition, which is adept in all things magic and very capable of being a watcher. He's the...one who knows our in and outs."
"Sorry, Kel." I said slowly.
"Not half as sorry as he's going to be." She sneered, speeding away.
At the Magic Store, Cale had his head buried in the Watcher's journals that Giles had lent him. He was fascinated by the stories of the past slayers and of course, their Watchers. It would have been more interesting to have heard the slayer's side too, but it was all the more intriguing. He'd just dropped the other slayers off back at the house and he was already back in the book. As he heard the door, he shifted the Watcher's Journals into another book and looked up in time to see me walk through into the reading area.
"Hello, Austin, how are you? Are you alright?" Cale asked.
"I'm good." I said quickly, "I didn't know if I'd make it all the way over here, but I did. Whatcha readin?"
"Umm, just brushing up on things to help us against our latest foe. Curious tonight, aren't you?" he chuckled, "The girls are safely at your residence."
"Thanks." I smiled.
"So, what happened?" he asked, interested in the odd occurrence. A Hell Goddess in a cemetery...odd.
"After you took my powers, she sought me out." I said quickly, shocking him, "Yeah, I know. You did this to me, took my powers and didn't bother to say please."
"I'm..."
I punched him, "Not finished, "I said angrily, "I have the girls and if any of them die while I'm powerless, you'd better run as far as you can."
"I didn't mean..."
"How do I undo this?" I asked.
"You can't. It takes days, maybe even weeks for the effects to wear off." He explained, getting to his feet.
"Why? Why didn't you just tell me that you were a Watcher?" I asked.
"Giles suggested that I shouldn't..." he said.
"Giles? He told you to scam me?" I asked.
"No. The Cruciatem was my idea, to test you." Cale explained, "Giles just insisted that you needed a Watcher, like the slayers before you."
"What about the thousands of slayers without Watchers? Kind of unfair." I said.
"They have Buffy. Or Giles. Or even that little twat Andrew." He said.
"Kelly and the others are at home and..." I stopped when I heard something strange. I walked around the corner and saw someone lying on the floor and someone checking them. I walked closer, "Are they alright?" I asked.
"No." the helper said, turning to reveal that she was a vampire, who had been feeding, "I think they're drained."
I tried to kick the vampire, but she caught my leg and pushed me to the ground, "Funny." I said, struggling against her.
"Oh, I'm going for the Killing Joke." She said, about to go for my throat, but Cale kicked her and she rolled off me!
I got to my feet, "Get out of here!" Cale yelled.
I nodded and took off towards the door and then I stopped and looked around. I smiled when I saw Holy Water and walked over to it, as I saw the Holy Water, I spied, with my little eyes, a crossbow and I grabbed both. As I grabbed them, I heard a bump and Cale cried out in pain. I hurried and got back to see Cale about to get bit and I only had one crossbow bolt, so I pulled out some Holy Water and dipped the arrow into it and shot it!
The arrow hit with a Thwang and she turned to look at me, "You missed the heart, and you're supposed to be a slayer."
I held up the Holy Water, "Better than wood...sometimes." I smirked.
As I smirked, the vampire combusted, I looked up at Cale, who was on the floor. I looked at him, and then walked away.
"I..." he said, "I've found what Sinew wants."
"To go home?" I asked.
"No. Her agenda is different. She escaped to rule over this dimension."
Something stuck in my head; she said something about ruling us, "What does she really want?"
"To release an Old One and rule with him." Cale explained.
I looked at him oddly. The Hell mouth. Hell Goddess. This was my fate, to stop her. My whole life has been leading up to this, to protect the Hell mouth, or close it. Either way, demons are gonna go boom. I shook my head, walking out of the store.