-
Xander needed to get the kids out of there. He had to tell them something important and he couldn’t shout it out to the world, heaven knows how many would actually hear him through the loud music, but thanks to him there were two more people who knew about the world of vampires and Slayers. That was going to lead to another problem. He had to tell Lyra and her two friends without dragging in the one called Ace.
“Okay,” Tyler said once they had left the club and were on their way to Ace’s car. “Why are we out here and not looking for Cheryl.”
“What happened to her?” Ace asked. “You said she wasn’t up there. What’s this got to do with a scam?”
Xander stared into the eyes of the ones who knew. “We think Cheryl got the hell out of dodge.” He had to think of a better answer than that. Learning about tickets to a show, no matter how awesome that show was, turning out to be fake was no reason just to leave the building without telling anyone.
“Why didn’t she tell us?” Ace asked. “Were her friends. Why didn’t she run back to Tyler?”
“We don’t know where she is,” Lyra said. She gave Xander a look that told him he better keep his mouth shut. “We think they wanted pretty girls or pretty people in general.”
“You think they tried to rape her?” Ace asked before he turned to Tyler. “And you are not telling anyone. You are not trying to find her?”
“We are trying to find her,” Ronnie said calmly. “We can’t jump to conclusions.”
“She wasn’t up there,” Tyler added. “That is why we think she ran and we don’t know where she ran too.”
“And no one knows where she could have gone?” Ace asked. “Nobody tried to call her.”
“Gotta give her some leeway,” Xander said. “If she is hiding we can’t risk exposing her with a ringing cell phone. We need to give her time.”
“Damn,” Ace said as he shook his head. “You making it sound like she is a secret agent on a mission.”
“We have to think logically,” Xander told him.
“What are we going to do?” Lyra asked.
“You four are going to go home and try to reach your friend.” Xander instructed.
“Wait who is this guy again?” Ace asked as he pointed his thumb at Xander.
“Investigative reporter,” Lyra said and turned to Xander. “Mr. Harris this Javier “Ace” Perez. Ace this is Alexander Harris, but everyone calls him Xander.”
“Hey,” Ace said and held out his hand.
“Nice to meet you,” Xander said and shook the teen’s hand.
“Ace could you bring the car over?” Lyra asked. “ I think I might have hurt my ankle upstairs.”
“Sure,” Ace said. “Ty, you wanna come with?”
Tyler stared into the eyes of the girls and noticed Xander was shaking his head. “I better stay with the girls. I don’t exactly trust this guy and I know how to fight.”
“No prob,” Ace said as he ran off towards wherever they had parked.
As soon as their friend had gone Tyler turned to Xander. “Okay, what the fuck just happened up there? There were these guys and they were drinking blood and they had fangs and their foreheads bulged out and were freaky and they were strong.”
“Vampires,” Ronnie said. “They were vampires.”
“Real vampires,” Tyler held up his hands. They were shaking. “Shit.”
“They didn’t have any reflections,” Ronnie said. “And this guy said Lyra could fight them.” She blinked. “Lyra did you?”
“I fought them.”
“Fought them?” Tyler asked. “She kicked their asses. She was stronger then them. She’s stronger than me and they way she moved.” He took a deep breath and turned to Lyra. “Where did you learn how to do that? I only gave you a basic lesson is self defense and how the hell did you get so strong?”
“I’m a Slayer,” Lyra said. “I guess it’s kind of hard to explain.”
“Might want to hold off on that,” Ronnie said as a black Kia Carnival pulled up next to them.
“Don’t say anything to anybody,” Xander told them. “When you come across your friend or if she calls you then call Lyra and Lyra you have my number.”
“I’ll promise to let you know,” Lyra said as Tyler opened the car for them.
Xander watched as the teens got into the car and didn’t move until the vehicle pulled away. He had expected the worst about their friend, but he did not have the heart to tell them. There was still a slim possibility that she would be all right and with that possibility he did not want to cause them alarm. He just wanted them to take proper caution and he hoped they would.
-
“What is this?” Maxine asked as her minions brought her the dying redhead and laid her down in front of her.
“An offering,” one minion said. “With a Slayer we will need new recruits.”
“She killed the others in the VIP lounge,” the other minion said. “We didn’t drain her too much.
“And instead I get sloppy seconds?” Maxine asked as she rolled her eyes.
“We could have brought her to Master Strix.”
“And let the Slayer know what he is?” She pointed to the door. “Leave.”
The two minions bowed before her before they left.
“Damn,” Maxine said and paced around the girl. She was pretty and young and hopefully she would have some brains and be able to think for herself rather than the cast offs that Strix had sent her.
“Hmmm?” The girl moaned.
“Hey,” Maxine poked her. “Those idiots are gone.”
“I wanted to go to a Mullo Strix show,” the girl said.
“Oh sweetie you will get to see him soon, but first a snack.” Maxine felt her forehead shift and her fangs extend before she bit into the girl.
-
As Xander had feared it was the following night when Lyra had called with the news that Cheryl had been found and was heading over to Tyler’s. Lyra promptly called Xander before she and Ronnie drove over in Ronnie’s car.
“Don’t go inside,” Xander prayed. “Don’t go inside yet.” He was certain that Tyler had invited Cheryl in and Tyler was in the most danger, even with his knowledge of karate, he was still at risk.
He lowered the window as he pulled up along the curb. “Don’t go inside.” He shouted. He parked the car. “Stay out.” He turned off the ignition and ran out of the vehicle. “Do not go inside.”
“We have to see our friend,” Ronnie said as she rang the doorbell.
“Why are you acting like that?” Lyra asked.
“It might be dangerous,” Xander said. “It is best if the three of us go in together.”
“Wouldn’t it be safer if Ronnie stayed out?” Lyra asked. “Since she is normal.”
“Hey,” Ronnie said in a dejected tone. “Watch who you are calling normal, girl.”
“Sorry.” Lyra shrugged. “You know what I mean.”
“Nothing wrong with being the normal one,” Xander told her. “I’m pretty normal, well sort of normal.”
“Why don’t you want us to just go inside?” Ronnie asked. “What’s wrong?”
“Just expect the worst,” Xander told her.
“Forewarned is Forearmed,” Lyra said.
“Exactly,” Xander said. That was a good lesson. Sounded like something Giles would have said. “Now the three of us need to stick tog-“ the sound of a guy’s scream cut him off. “And barge right in.” He slammed himself elbow first against the door. The pain was felt all over.
“Well that was stupid,” Ronnie said.
“Yeah,” Xander groaned in agreement. “I should of asked Lyra to do it.”
“Or you could of just turned the knob,” Ronnie said as she opened the door. Now why didn’t he think of that?
“Come on,” Lyra said as she ran into the house followed by Ronnie.
“Remember the plan,” Xander said as he hobbled in after them. “We need to stick together.” He followed the two girls into the living room.
Tyler was trying to pull off a girl with red hair as she had her mouth clamped around his neck. A few droplets of blood had escaped her lips and were dribbling down his shoulders.
“Oh god,” Ronnie gasped.
“No,” Lyra said. “Cheryl no.”
Xander knew he had to be the one to attack. The girls were both frozen in place at the realization. They were not ready to accept the truth. He harnessed his entire strength and ignored the pain while he struck Cheryl in her bulging forehead with his fist. It was enough to get her off of the boy.
“Hey you jerk,” Cheryl said. She still had her full vamp mug on. “You made me lose my lunch.”
“Lunch?” Ronnie asked. “This is Tyler.”
“Yeah, so?” Cheryl asked in a bored tone.
“You love him,” Lyra said. She was shaking her head. “And he loves you.”
“And we can love each other forever,” Cheryl said as she wiped her mouth. “Now give him back.”
“No,” Xander said coldly. “Ronnie get Tyler out of here. Go to another room and lock yourselves in there.”
“What about Cheryl?” Ronnie asked.
“We’ll take care of her,” Xander said. “No go.”
“No,” Tyler groaned as he was dragged away. “Cheryl.”
“Thanks,” Cheryl said once Tyler and Ronnie had left. “Now I have a snack for later. Or maybe Tyler will have a snack for later.”
“You are not going to sire him,” Xander said.
“Cheryl, it’s me,” Lyra said. Her eyes were watering. “It’s me. We are friends. We have been friends since the first grade.”
“She is no longer your friend,” Xander told her. A part of him wanted to comfort her. He felt the pain of losing Jessie again.
“It’s not too late,” Lyra said. “We can still cure her.”
“Lyra.” Xander had to tell her the truth.
“There is still time,” Lyra said. She was not listening to him.
“Lyra no.”
“We just have to find the one that did this to her.”
“Lyra.”
“Hunt him down.”
“Listen to me.”
“Kill him and she will be back to normal.”
“She’s dead,” Xander explained. “Her soul is gone. She is—right behind me.” He felt hands grab onto his shoulders.
“You talk to much, Cyclops,” Cheryl said. “Hey Lyra, wanna be immortal?”
“No,” Lyra said as she blinked.
“Why not?” The vampire asked.
“I don’t want to live forever and watch everyone I care about grow old and die. I don’t want to leave my family, or my friends, or anyone.”
“You won’t even care about you family,” Cheryl said in a smug tone. “I didn’t when I ate them.”
“No,” Lyra cried out.
“It’s easy,” Cheryl said. “All you got to do is hold em down and bite. Like this.”
Xander was ready to stomp down on her foot as soon as he felt her lips on her neck, but he never got the chance. The vampire was thrown off him. He turned around and watched as Lyra had her pinned down.
“I can’t,” Lyra said as she struggled to keep her friend down. “I can’t do it.” She looked up at Xander with pleading eyes. “Please don’t make me.”
“I won’t make you,” Xander said. He pulled the stake out of his pocket and shoved it through Cheryl’s chest. As soon as the vampire turned to dust Lyra broke down and cried. Xander placed his arms around her and let her sob into his chest. “I’m sorry.” He whispered. “I lost a friend like this. A good friend who I grew up with.”
Xander how no idea how long he held her and how long she sobbed. It almost felt like an eternity. That moment was shattered when Lyra’s friends ran into the room.
“Cheryl?” Ronnie asked.
Xander could only respond by shaking his head and Lyra was set off again.
“No,” Ronnie gasped out before she broke down and cried.
“You bastard,” Tyler growled. “You killed her.” He ran up to Xander. “You killed her.”
Xander stood up and shielded himself from Tyler. “Don’t. You suffered from some blood loss.”
“I don’t care,” Tyler said as he tried to throw the first punch. “You killed her.”
“No Tyler,” Lyra said. She had grabbed onto his arm. “They killed her.” She and Ronnie had managed to pull Tyler off.
“They killed her when they took her blood,” Xander said. “They drained her and made her drink theirs. That created a demon inside her. She died and her soul left. This demonic parasite took over. It wore her face made her walk, used her voice to speak. It had access to her memories but she isn’t the same.” He pointed at Tyler. “Sit down. You shouldn’t be movie too much.” He rubbed his forehead. “They took my friend the same way.”
The three friends did not say anything but continued to sit on the couch and cry and hold onto each other. Lyra was the first to stand and she ran outside.
“Don’t move,” Xander held up his fingers and ran out of the house.
Lyra was leaning over in the grass. Her hands were on her knees and she was heaving.
“Lyra,” Xander addressed her in a calm tone. He heard something behind him and he turned around, only to see nothing. “Lyra, do you want to talk about it?”
“Gah,” Lyra croaked. She wiped her mouth and stood back up. “It’s not going to get easier is it?”
“Slaying?”
“This being a Slayer. This whole thing.”
“I’m going to be honest,” Xander said. He grabbed onto her hands. “There will be good days and bad. There will be times when you will have an easy kill and there will be times when it will be difficult. There will be times when you are not sure you will win and those you know you will and when you succeed you will not always feel good about it. It’s pretty much life in general but I have been told that the hardest thing in this world is to live in it.”
“My fault.”
“No it’s not.”
“When those two first came to our table. I sensed something but I shrugged it off. Unless Slayers don’t have any vampire sensing abilities.”
“They do.” He wanted to comfort her but he also wanted to be honest.
“I blew it. Cheryl would still be happy and alive and human if I gave in to my instinct but I didn’t and now she’s dead.”
“You had no idea,” Xander said. He grabbed onto her shoulders. “Now look into my eye. You are still new at this. You had just a bomb of information land on you and turning your world upside down. I forced you when you were not ready, but you did save Tyler’s life twice.”
“But he’s going to become a vampire.”
“No he isn’t. It’s not just the bite like in some movies. They have to drink a certain amount and then you have to drink theirs. That is how a vampire is made. I know several who were bitten and still can walk in the sun. Some of them are also Slayers.”
“This is the part where you tell me that with great power.” She stopped and looked at him hoping that he would finish the line.
“Comes great responsibility.” He gave her a small smile. “I understand if you still do not want to get involved.”
“I do. I have this gift. I have to use it.” She no longer sounded sad or weak. “I don’t want anyone else to go through what I just did, what we just did. I need to learn how to be a great Slayer.”
“I will teach you everything I know and what I don’t I’ll call a whole lot of people who are smarter than me who will help.” He turned back to the house. For a second he thought he saw someone or something on the roof, but it turned out to just be the shadows playing tricks on his eyes. “Let’s go back in. Your friend, Tyler needs you for friendship, for comfort and support and he needs some calories.”
-
Xander rummaged around through the boxes he kept bathroom stuff in that had yet to fully unpack. He needed some Tylenol. After what had happened earlier that night he needed to swallow a few with a glass of water and just lie back. He would have poured himself a drink except he didn’t have any alcohol and he didn’t want to get into some of his father’s habits.
He stayed with the kids until they were ready to go home, except for Tyler since he already was home. After a few snacks involving peanut butter and nicely fortified cereal and milk Tyler was looking a little better. He still didn’t feel better. Xander knew how he felt. It seemed like everyone he had fallen in love with has died. Anya had died in the battle against the First, he was informed Cordelia had died not long after that, and most recently with Renee. Xander felt like he should not get involved with anyone ever again out of fear that something would happen to them.
His phone range as soon as he had gotten the bottle open. “Hello?” He had sandwiched his phone between his ear and his shoulder.
“Hello, Xander.” It was Giles.
“Not the person I was expecting.” He popped the pills in his mouth and took a long drink from his glass. In truth he was not expecting anyone.
“Is something wrong?” Giles asked.
“Just had a stressful night,” Xander said. He unloaded everything that had happened onto the former retired and newly reinstated Watcher. “They feel a little better now, but it’s not something they are ever going to forget.”
“Of course not,” Gile said and after a sigh he continued. “That poor girl. It’s always hard when something like that happens and you say she blames herself?”
“Yes she does.”
“She had no way she could have foreseen that was going to happen. Even if she had dreamed it there was no way it would be perfectly clear.”
“I don’t think she dreamed it,” Xander said as he made his way to the single chair that he brought to Florida.
“I should explain the reason that I have called you,” Giles said. “Willow has informed me that the new Slayer was not willing to accept her role.”
“She is now.”
“Well one of the other Slayers had thought she needed a little more persuasion and bought a ticket to Orlando. She will be arriving within a few hours.”
“She doesn’t need persuasion,” Xander said. “Although having another Slayer might help. They can go out together, find a nice graveyard, stab at a few vampires and exchange some gossip.”
“This is Slaying you are talking about not shoe shopping.”
“Depending on the Slayer they might squeeze that into their routine.” Xander thought of Buffy. “Which one is coming?”
“Well I need to prepare you since the two of you have a bit of history tog-“
“Giles,” Xander interrupted. “Just tell me which one.”
“Faith.”