Kevin walked into the gym surprised to see Lis busy with the punching bag.
"Yeah I know its a surprise to see me here early." she said, hitting the bag.
He nodded and sat down on the weight bench. "Whats on your mind, you only get that involved in your workout when there's something going on."
Lis stopped and looked at him, pushing the hair back out of her face. "What's the role of a slayer protector and why didn't you mention it to me before?"
"A slayer protector?" Kevin stammered.
"That's what I said."
"How did you find out about that?"
"Lets just say me and mine had a cozy little chit chat late last night. What? Is something wrong Kevin?" he looked positively pale.
"It's uh, from what I've read and heard so far, protectors are only given to slayers who are in danger and above all they never reveal themselves to the Slayer. Even the watcher usually doesn't know the protector's identity."
Lis sighed. "Well then mine's breaking all the rules isn't he?"
"Looks that way." Kevin got up and walked into his office, Lis behind him.
"Kev, how does one become a protector, bodyguard thing?"
Kevin shrugged. "I didn't get that far, only that they have their own special abilities. That's as far as I've gotten."
"Ah yes, too busy reading Muscle and Fitness to finish Watchers 101."
"It was 'What Every Watcher Needs To Know' and I fell asleep." he defended.
"Yeah whatever you say. I'm on my way back home ok?" she said and watched him nod as he pulled out a big thick black book, which Lis did not want to know the contents. She opened the door and nearly crashed into Kevin's girlfriend Alec.
"Hi Lis. Getting in an early workout?" Alec asked "Yeah, just heading home actually. You going to see Kev?"
Alec smiled. "Thats why I'm here."
"He looked a little busy."
Alec made a face. "He's always too busy."
Lis shrugged. "Well I'm off, see ya later."
"See ya Lis. Have a nice weekend."
Lis nodded and headed out the front doors, while Alec wondered why Lis was always at the gym with Kevin. There was no reason someone needed to work out as often as she was there. She walked over to Kevin's door and knocked.
"Well?"
"I've made contact."
"Good."
"Surprisingly easy."
"I'm not surprised with that.."
"She doesn't suspect a thing."
"Even better."
"Is that all?"
"For now." he smiled and walked out of the building.
Han waved at Lis and headed over to the table. "You weren't in school today."
"I had a bit of a late night."
"A vamp?" Han asked excitedly.
"No and Han tone it down a little will ya?"
"Sorry."
"Anyways I was up late and thought I could do with a day off."
"Oh look, hottie at ten o'clock."
Lis looked up to see Nick walking her direction. "Oh goody, the mystery man returns."
Han looked at her friend in disbelief. "You know the hottie?"
"We've briefly conversed once or twice."
"Hello." Nick said, stopping right in front of the table.
"Hi." Lis said smiling at him. "Nick, Han, Han the mystery man Nick." Lis introduced the two.
"Nice to meet you." Nick said, sitting down.
"Ah yes, stay a while why don't you." Lis said, playing with the straw in her drink.
Nick looked at Han, "Could you give us a..."
"She knows I'm the slayer." Lis interupted him.
Nick looked at Lis in shock. "That isn't something that's supposed to be commmon knowledge."
"Well it's not. Han Nick is my protector, bodyguard type thingie."
Han grinned. "Can us ordinary peeps hire you to?"
Nick laughed. "No sorry only slayers get the honor."
Honor of what Lis thought then looked away from him.
"I see Brian, I'll be back." Han said standing up.
"K, see ya Han." Lis said watching her disappear into the crowd. "So," Lis said, staring at her hands.
"I've got info."
"Oh?" Lis looked up at him.
"The new vamps in town..."
"What about them?"
"Their trouble."
"Aren't all vampires trouble?"
Nick's eyes clouded over. "99.9 percent are."
Lis was about to ask about the 0.0% when she had a funny feeling wash over her. "What is it?" Nick asked watching her. "I'm feeling the vamp vibe."
"Lets go." Nick grabbed her jacket from her chair and headed out.
"That's a deep cut" Nick said, looking at the cut on Lis' arm.
"Glass usually does that."
They'd encountered three vamps and Lis had managed to stake them all, after being tossed onto a car. Nick bandaged the cut up while Lis grimaced in pain.
"Your parents are going to ask questions."
"Not if I wear long sleeves."
"You live in tank tops. They'll be suspicious."
"Exactly how long have you been protecting me?" Lis asked, leaning back on the bed.
"About three months." Nick said as he put away the first aid kit.
"Three?" Lis asked in amazement.
"So you fight well." Nick said changing the subject.
She sighed. "Thanks."
"You could do better."
"You've been friends with Kevin too long."
"Stay here for a few days all right? You can tell your folks your at Han's."
"You sure?" Lis asked, examining the bandage on her arm.
"Very sure."
"Ok thanks."
Nick excused himself and left her in the guest room. Lis laid back in bed. She was sure there was a small spark between her and Nick, but when he looked at her she felt like he was looking at someone else. She climbed between the sheets and fell asleep.
Nick stood in the doorway and watched her sleep.
"It won't be long."
"Can't you...?" He started.
"No, its all ready been set in motion."
"But she's not ready."
"She'll just have to face him."
"Are you sure? Maybe..."
"There can be no trade off...unless..."
Nick looked at Elle. "I go."
She nodded. "You'd be with me."
"But I'm the last protector."
"And she's the last slayer. You both the last of your two worlds."
Nick sighed and walked into his room and looked at Elle. "Why did..."
She sat next to him on the bed. "Why didn't they kill me?" Nick nodded. "To make an example of I guess. A slayer turned vampire is hard to believe."
"But I failed."
Elle reached out and touched his face. "No Nick, I let it happen."
His eyes filled with surprise. "How could you?"
"It was bound to happen and I didn't have the strength to fight it anymore." she sighed. "Your falling for her."
"No I'm not. After you I vowed never again."
"Your saying one thing but your eyes tell me another."
Nick stood up. "Maybe it would be best if we dropped the subject." He turned around and she was gone.
Elle walked into the her house and shut the door.
"And?" a male voice asked.
"And he thinks I was warning him."
"Good, good and the new slayer?"
"Unprepared. It appears no one was ready when she was called."
Howie smiled. "Even better."
Lis sat up in bed, covered in sweat. She'd just had another nightmare. She climbed out of bed and headed to the kitchen. She was surprised to see Nick clad in green satin pajama staring out the window.
"Nightmare?" he asked, not looking at her.
"Yeah, their getting more frequent."
"It's your intuition." he said knowingly.
"I'm afraid." she whispered.
He turned around and looked at her. "You've got to fight what comes. It has to happen."
"I know and that's why I'm afraid. I all ready know the end."
Nick sat down and pulled her on his lap. He was surprised at how fast her heart was beating. "It'll be ok."
"No it won't."
"It will."
"What if I run?"
"They'll track you down." She sighed. "Being a slayer bites."
He smiled. "That was funny."
"No it wasn't." She leaned against him and looked up into his eyes. They were the most brilliant blue she'd ever seen.
"What?" he whispered.
"Protectors and slayers, do they ever get involved?" she asked
"Not usually." he answered.
"Oh." Lis said in a small voice.
"But its allowed." he whispered, smiling at her.