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The cemetery was quiet. A gentle breeze stirred the
tops of the trees but apart from that everything was still. Sitting atop
one of the larger mausoleums with her feet dangling below Buffy watched
and waited. Having been sitting there since just before sunset, a couple
of hours ago, she was starting to get impatient. Vampires had no
consideration.
Maybe she should start singing and see if that would bring them out. She
smiled. She could be the first ever vampire charmer. Then, remembering the
last time she'd sung in a cemetery, her smile faded. Perhaps not.
There was one good thing about the waiting though. It had given her some
time to think, something she hadn't had a lot of lately. In fact she was
glad that she'd decided to come alone. When Giles had told her about a
spate of deaths in nearby Barstow, deaths which had all the hallmarks of
vampire killings, her first thought had been to bring some of the younger
Slayers, as she'd done on previous occasions. But then she'd changed her
mind, time alone had been non- existent for her of late.
Though the Academy for the Slayers was something she believed in
wholeheartedly it was turning out to be a much bigger job than she'd ever
imagined. The number of girls now staying at the old school was astounding
and with more arriving every week she had no idea where it would end.
Giles was right, no matter how much she wanted to she couldn't do
everything by herself. Not that she'd wanted to but Faith bailing had left
her little choice. Ok that was a little harsh but she had hoped that her
dark haired counterpart would take more of an active role.
As an experienced Slayer like herself, Faith would have been a great help
in teaching the younger Slayers and Buffy was certain she could have
talked her into it if given enough time. But not only had she disappeared
she had now deprived her of Xander as well. Buffy shook her head. She was
being way harsh now and, if she was honest with herself, more than a
little selfish. Xander wasn't her property to do as she wanted, he was her
friend and if he and Faith were happy together then she should be happy
for them, which she was. And anyway who was she to judge the merits of a
relationship. When it came to matters of the heart her track record was
just one disaster after another. She hoped they were alright.
Xander, Faith and the Academy weren't her only worries though. The letter
from the Council had really shaken her up. Thinking about it now she
couldn't believe how stupid she'd been to think that the Council was gone,
that something which had been around for so long would be so easily
destroyed.
The question she'd been wrestling with since the letter was could she
trust them? Did she really want them snooping about, asking question and
trying to tell her what to do? The thing was the girls just didn't need to
learn about their heritage or the evil things that were part of a Slayer's
every day life. There was normal school work as well which, though boring
and mundane in comparison, was equally important. It really would be nice
to have Watchers to help with that part of their education. It wasn't as
if she could employ normal teachers. Willow had been doing her best but
the more Slayers that arrived the harder it became. She'd have to talk to
Giles about it, maybe he knew a couple of Watchers they could trust.
What to do about the theft of the Axe was a bit more difficult. The list
of suspects that Giles had been composing over the past week wasn't very
long and Buffy still thought that the Council was behind it. Or if not the
Council itself then someone known to them. Which was another reason why
she was wary of asking for their help. Even if the new Council was more
understanding and willing to help there were always self serving
individuals who wouldn't mind branching out on there own and perhaps
taking two or three Slayers with them. Just like that Watcher who had
tried to steal that glove thingy. Buffy frowned. What was her name now?
Jen…Glen…Gwen…Gwendolyn Post, that was it. What an evil psycho bitch
she'd been. The last thing they wanted was someone like her in their
midst.
Unfortunately the list of actual thieves was just as short. Giles had
found four or five demons that might have been immune to Willow's magic
but all of them came from other dimensions and would be difficult if not
impossible to find. Willow had continued to search for the Axe magically
but so far had found nothing, even with Dawn's help.
Which brought her nicely to her biggest worry. Her sister's intent to
learn magic wasn't making her life any easier. She ran a hand through her
hair. She'd found a grey hair the other day. Why couldn't Dawn be
interested in something safe like chess or painting or cheerleading? Ok
maybe not cheerleading but couldn't she see how dangerous magic was? Why
did…she began but realising that her hands when clenched she stopped.
Taking a deep breath she tried to relax. It was done now. Perhaps it was
time to accept it. Dawn had made her decision, she just hoped she didn't
come to regret it. If…
A movement off to her left halted her in mid thought. Quickly she turned
and was just in time to see three figures, vampires no doubt, emerge from
a square tomb. It was about time. A stake suddenly in her hand Buffy
hopped down from her perch and went to have a closer look.
"Nice night for a walk," she commented as she came up behind
them. Startled the three vampires, a man and two women, span round to face
her, their true faces on show. "The company isn't up to much
mind."
"Who are you?" the male vamp growled.
"Me?" Buffy smiled brightly. "I'm your friendly stake
delivery girl. And here's your order," she told him and before any of
them could react her hand shot out to stab him through the heart.
As he exploded into dust the other two vamps sprang into action and
attacked. Fending off the vamp on her left Buffy swept the feet from
beneath the other one and before she could recover plunged her stake
through her chest. Two down, one to go.
Alone and outmatched the final vampire proved to be no trouble at all and
in moments was nothing more than dust like her companions. The Slayer, her
job complete, put away her stake and smiled. She should do this more
often, dusting vampires was so simple. Unlike dealing with sisters.
Dawn gently closed her bedroom door and with her shoes in her hand padded
silently along the corridor. It was a week since the theft of the Axe had
forced her magic lessons into the open and things between her and her
sister had become decidedly frosty. So much so in fact that she had taken
to avoiding Buffy whenever possible. Every day Buffy had found some reason
to have a go at her, her schoolwork, being late, her clothes and yesterday
the colour of her hair. Which would have been quite funny if it hadn't
been so annoying because she hadn't done anything to it. Today she was
determined not to give her sister the opportunity.
Approaching the door to Buffy's bedroom Dawn slowed her step to a snail's
pace but it was to no avail, slayer senses were just too sharp. "Dawn
is that you?" Buffy called out as she stood right in front of the
door.
Oh! Crap. The young woman froze and, hearing footsteps from beyond the
door, looked around for somewhere to hide. She was still looking around
though when the door opened and her sister poked her head out. "Oh!
It is you," she said. "I'm glad it is I've got something to tell
you."
Inwardly Dawn groaned. Here it comes. What now? Were her eyelashes too
long? Was she breathing too loudly or maybe she wasn't breathing loud
enough. "What is it?" she asked, unable to keep the bitterness
from her tone.
Buffy's eyes flashed but there was no tirade of criticism. "I just
wanted to say I'm sorry, ok? I know I've been hard on you and I…I don't
mean to, really I don't but I'm worried about you."
Dawn blinked in surprise. That was unexpected. Her eyes narrowed and she
looked at her sister closely. Was this really Buffy or had Willow somehow
managed to reassemble the Buffybot?
Buffy frowned. "What are you doing?"
"Er…nothing."
"Well anyway," Buffy continued, "I know you've had your
heart set on learning magic and I should have been more supportive."
Yes you should have Dawn wanted to say but instead she just nodded.
"I want you to promise me one thing though."
"Ok." As long as it wasn't to give up.
"Promise me that you'll be careful, I don't know what I'd do if
something was to happen to you."
"Oh come on Buffy what could possibly happen? I've got Willow
teaching me after all." Dawn just wished that she would teach her a
bit faster. Most of her lessons were still being taken up with control
exercises. The scrying spell had been the most powerful thing she'd done
to date and then she'd only been involved to make up the numbers.
"Promise me," Buffy insisted.
Geez what was up with her today? "Ok, I promise I'll be careful.
Satisfied?"
Buffy nodded and smiled. Another surprise. They may not be living on a
Hellmouth any more but her sister's smiles were still a rarity. "Can
I go now, I've gotta get to school?"
"Of course. How are things going there? Have you settled in?"
Dawn shrugged. "Ok I guess. I haven't come across any ghosts yet, so
that's something."
"What about new friends?"
"I've made one or two," she replied vaguely. She hadn't made any
really, the other kids just seemed so…what was the word…childish? Yeah
that was it, childish. They knew nothing of the real world, of vampires
and demons and other evil things.
"Any…er…any…"
Oh God! Dawn felt herself blush. She was going to ask her about boys. How
embarrassing. "Buffy I really have to go," she said quickly and
started to back away. "I have a test and I can't be late." She
didn't but this sudden concern was kinda weird and there was no way she
was going to have a talk about boys with her as if it was something they
did all the time.
"Oh!" Buffy exclaimed. "Ok."
"We can talk later if you want," Dawn told her before turning
and hurrying off.
"Good luck with the test," Buffy called but Dawn was already out
of sight. She sighed. That hadn't gone too bad, apart from freaking her
out at the end that is. It seemed she was out of practice with these
sisterly chats. Oh well, she'd get better with practice.
"So what do you think?" Buffy asked eagerly, having just
finished telling Giles of her change of heart in the cemetery and that she
was now willing to accept Watcher help.
Seated comfortably in his favourite leather arm chair in the living room
of his apartment the ex-Watcher didn't answer straight
away. "Well it should be possible I suppose," he said
eventually, sounding somewhat less than thrilled.
"Only should?" Buffy gave him a disappointed look. It wasn't
exactly the answer she had expected. As it had been Giles who had first
mentioned it she had hoped for a little more enthusiasm.
"I'm sorry Buffy, I'm overjoyed that you've decided to accept help in
teaching the girls but finding four trustworthy Watchers willing to help
will be a tall order."
"Oh."
"You've got to realise it's a lot to ask of someone. To give up ones
home, ones life and move to another country to start afresh is not a
decision to be made lightly. And none of them are young."
She hadn't considered that. "So how many do you think you could
find?"
Giles shrugged. "I really don't know. There aren't many Watchers I
consider trustworthy enough to ask and it will depend a lot on my
persuasive abilities."
Buffy supposed there wasn't. There was only one she trusted and he was in
the chair opposite. "So you will be going to speak to them in person
then?"
"I think if we're asking people to start a new life it's only right
and proper that we do it face to face, don't you?"
"There's always e-mail, it is the twenty first century after
all." Giles was less than impressed. "I'm joking." They
probably didn't know what e-mail was. "When will you go?"
Giles was already reaching for the phone. "As soon as I can get a
flight."
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