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Part Three
Giles sat at the desk, looking through some old text, while Wesley passed the room. The younger man could hardly stand still for more than a few minutes before he felt compelled to traverse the wooden floor of the library.
“You’re going to dig a trench, if you don’t stop,” Giles said patiently, “Sit down. There’s not much we can do, until Buffy gets back, and reports.”
“I know, I know,” Wesley sighed miserably, “I just feel so utterly useless, not being able to do anything. Fighting Vampires and Demons are one thing, but this...”
“...is yet another day on the Hellmouth,” Giles explained, “Nothing is ever easy here, not even waiting. But if you don’t learn to exercise some patience, it will drive your insane. Or drive me to kill you. Now, please sit down.”
****** Joyce Summers stood in her kitchen fixing a late night snack. She had already eaten dinner alone, after Buffy called saying that she wouldn’t be back until late that night, but she was still hungry. Maybe it was nerves. Ever since she found out that her daughter was the Chosen One, she seemed more in tuned with Buffy now, than she had been her entire life. And something in her daughter’s voice had given her cause for alarm. Something was not right.
She turned on the radio and listened to a classic rock station, she wasn’t sure which, but it somehow gave her some small comfort. Then a song from Cream came on and she took a deep breath. She quickly walked over to the radio and turned it off. That song brought up too many memories...one’s which she wasn’t quite ready to deal with, just yet.
Rupert Giles, and that damn band candy.
It wasn’t that she didn’t enjoy herself, because even under the influence of cursed candy, she was quite aware of what they did. But it was the awkward meetings after the “fact” that made the night a disaster. Neither one talked about it since then, even though both knew they should, and that led to a very strained relationship between the two. Buffy didn’t know exactly why her mother and her Watcher were acting weird around each other lately, but Joyce knew. Joyce knew all too well.
One night stands were not the norm for either one of them. Then, throw in an eighteen year old girl into the mix, one that they both care deeply about...and that was a recipe for angst. Maybe, if things were different. Maybe if there weren’t so many complications. Maybe...
A noise came from outside, interrupting her thoughts. It sounded like an upturned garbage can clanging around the ground. A dog perhaps? Maybe even a coyote...
As soon as she went to the window, the noise stopped. She peered into the darkness of her backyard, scanning the property for the location of the disturbance, but found none. So, if there was nothing out there, why was she so uneasy? The concern in Buffy’s voice played in her head. What if there really was something out there? What if it was watching her right now? Usually, she would have dismissed those thoughts from her head, chalking it up to paranoia...but this time seemed different. This time, she felt strongly compelled to listen to those thoughts.
So, she did the only thing she could think of...she picked up the phone and began to dial...
****** Giles was about to lecture Wesley once again on the benefits of patience, when the phone rang. He sighed in relief and got up to answer it. At least this way, he would be preoccupied from watching Wesley continue his pacing. “Hello, Sunnydale Library,” he said, “No, she’s not here. She’s still on patrol. I don’t know when she’ll be back. Why? Are you sure? Yes, yes of course. No, you shouldn’t. Stay inside and I’ll come straight away.”
He put the phone down and grabbed for his jacket. Wesley noticed this and immediately stopped his pacing, “Mr. Giles,” he asked, “you’re leaving? Where are you going?”
Giles went into his filing cabinet and took out several stakes, vials of holy water and a cross, “Buffy’s mother just called. She said she thought she heard a strange noise coming from her backyard. It’s probably nothing really, but I’m going there to make sure.”
“Ooo,” the younger man said excitedly, “Is there anything I can do to help?”
Giles looked back at the young Watcher, and visions of spending yet more time with the “nervous and twitchy one” sprang to mind, “Ah, no. You should really stay here, in case Buffy returns with any news. Besides, as I told you before, it’s probably nothing.”
Wesley look slightly deflated, but he gave a quick nod to the older man, “I hope so,” he said sincerely, “Be careful.”
****** Xander roamed aimlessly through the streets of Sunnydale for the better part of the hour. When he got home earlier, he found his parents in the usual position...fighting. Both were drunk, and both were in particularly nasty moods. So, instead of locking himself in his room, as he had for most of his life, he decided to go out. He didn’t care if there was a danger lurking out there in the shadows...even vampires seemed better than the relentless onslaught of verbal abuse that seemed to flow mercilessly from their lips.
He thought about stopping by the Bronze, but knew that would be pointless. There wouldn’t have been anyone there that would have given him the time of day, much less call him “friend”. His only friends, had the better sense to stay home tonight...except for Buffy, who had little choice but to be out and about. She was, once again, trying to save her friends and possibly the world from some unknown thing of evil.
He only hoped that she wasn’t alone.
Xander stopped when he realized where his wanderings had brought him...Willow’s.
“Geeze,” he said silently to himself, “How lame am I? The minute I get a little depressed, who do I turn to?...the one person, I shouldn’t be around right now.”
He looked at her house and sighed. This was not a cure for his blues. She was with Oz, a good friend of his, and he had no right to intrude. The last thing he wanted was to screw up their friendship like he did the last time...
But, man...Willow could be so cute sometimes...and sweet...and...
“Okay, Xander,” he chastised himself, “cut that out! I don’t care if I want to knock on that door. I don’t care if I still find her irresistible. I don’t care...” He looked into the bushes next to the driveway and saw four yellow eyes staring back “...that there are hideous beasts hiding out in the bushes, looking hungrily at me. Ah...GUYS!!!”
Xander raced for the front door, and pounded furiously on the knocker. He could hear everything; the rustling of the leaves, the breaking of the branches, the clicking of nails on the pavement, but dared not turn around. If he did...
The door opened to reveal a very flushed Willow, “Um...Xander? W-what are you doing here...now...at this time?”
“Willow, I need to come in...like NOW!” Xander raced passed his friend and shut the door with a slam, “We’ve gotta call Giles...there’s something outside your house. Something that has yellow eyes, and smells real bad.”
Oz heard this and come out of the living room. He was still in the process of getting dressed when he asked, “Vampires?”
“No...I don’t think so. They seemed like animals-things...I think.”
“Well, what ever it is can’t be a werewolf, ‘cuz it’s not a full moon for at least a week,” Willow observed.
“No, it not a...”Xander’s eyes went from Willow to Oz, then back again, “I interrupted something, didn’t I.”
Willow blushed and turned away. Oz stepped up to answer his friend, “Well, not exactly.” then turning back to the subject at hand he asked, “But if there is something outside...where is it?”
Xander looked out the window, and saw nothing. The eyes were gone...at least for the time being.
****** “You really didn’t have to come over, Mr. Giles,” Joyce said, bringing a cup of water from the kitchen, “I’m sure it’s nothing, now that I think about it. Probably just some dumb old dog, trying to get an easy meal.”
“I-I know, Joyce,” Giles said, walking over to the back door, “but it never hurts to be too careful. I’ll just give a quick check of the yard, and be on my way.”
“Well,” Joyce said, almost apologetically, “you don’t have to run out so quickly, on my account. I mean, if you want to stay until Buffy gets back...”
Giles looked at her and gave a nervous smile. He knew exactly what she meant by that. They had shared a very intimate moment together, and hadn’t spoken about it since then. It was awkward for them both...which could explain why they were avoiding each other like the plague. But, that was ridiculous. They were both grown adults, and could...should handle this like grown adults. So, why were they acting like school children?
Two words...Buffy Summers.
Giles was so afraid that if he told her about his “rendezvous” with her mother, that she would never trust him again. It was one thing to drug her and throw her in a room, with no powers, to fight off a powerful demon...that she could forgive. Although, he never understood why. But to take advantage of her mother...he was fairly sure that would cause a violent response from the Slayer, one he would soon not wish to see.
And then there was Joyce.
He truly like the woman. To have gone though what she had, and still remain sane...that was something few people could boast about. And now, after less than one year since she was introduced to Buffy’s world, Joyce had jumped on the Slayer Bandwagon, supporting her daughter in every way she could. He couldn’t face her knowing she saw the “Ripper” side of him. The part of him, he wished would have remained under tight wrap.
But here he was, in her home, looking for monsters hiding under the bed. Or, was it demons in the backyard? “Well,” he conceded, “I suppose I could stay for a little while. A-at least until Buffy returns. Now, where did you say you heard the noise?”
****** Buffy and Angel patrolled one of the many cemeteries that were scattered around the town. But, their efforts seemed fruitless, leading them to nothing. God, it was quiet tonight...too quiet. The only vampire that roamed the streets was the one holding her hand, and that worried the Slayer. Didn’t animals flee when a great catastrophe was about to happen? Was it the same for demons? Or was she just being paranoid?
“This is weird.” Angel gave voice to both their concerns.
“You’re just noticing? Angel, we’ve just left Strangeville, and entered Bizarroland. What’s going on? Not that I mind this lack of undead activity...but this is spooky.”
“I can’t argue with that,” Angel agreed, “I’ve haven’t seen it this quiet since...”
“Since...what?” Buffy looked at him worried. The air had suddenly grown cold around them, sending shivers down the Slayer’s spine. Angel looked spooked. And for him to be afraid...there must be something really big going down. “Angel...what is it?”
“Shhh....” he hushed, “did you hear that?”
“Yeah,” Buffy said, raising a stake in the air, “It came from behind that tomb.”
They split up, and carefully crept around the tomb, trying to flank the unseen intruder. It had only made a slight sound, but it was enough to give away its position, and to seal its fate.
“NOW!” Buffy shouted, leaping out, ready to strike.
“Woah! Hey, B, watch where you point that thing,” Faith said, striking a defensive posture, “You might poke someone’s eye out.”
“Jesus, Faith!” Buffy breathed out a sigh of relief, “What the HELL are you doing sneaking around here like that? And where have you been all day?”
Faith folded her arms and huffed, “What are you my mother? I didn’t think I had to answer to you. Where I go is MY business.”
“Fine,” Buffy threw her hands up in disgust, “whatever. But I just thought I’d let you know we have a serious situation going on here.”
“Like when do we not?”
“Willow was working on the computer, and she got electrocuted. Somebody, overloaded the computer, and caused it to blow up.”
Faith, paused and looked at Buffy, there was a hint of concern, before it was swallowed up by her ‘poker-face’, “That’s pretty harsh. She okay?”
“Yeah, but we could use your help tracking whoever did this,” Buffy admitted, “And besides...there’s safety in numbers.”
Faith grabbed her stake and looked down at the ground, “Yeah...safety.”
****** Giles searched the grounds of the Summers’ residence for fifteen minutes before he started to head back to the house. He saw Joyce standing by the open door, waiting for the “all clear” from him. He was about to tell her that everything was fine, when a slight rustle in the hedges attracted his attention. He shined his flashlight at the source of the noise and cautiously approached.
“What is it?” Joyce asked, in a loud whisper, “Did you see something?”
“Not exactly see...no,” Giles answered, inching his way closer to the hedges, “But I did hear something. Something in the bushes.”
“Maybe you come inside, and we can call the animal control unit,” she suggested, nervously watching him get dangerously close to the rustling leaves.
“I just want to get a closer look...” Giles stopped cold, when he heard the growl. It was a deep, guttural sound that no living creature could have made. It was the sound of death...his death. And Joyce heard it too.
“W-what was that?” She asked, feeling herself shaking from her very core, “Is it a dog?”
Giles looked into the large yellows eyes, and whispered, “No...this is no dog.”
****** From a closed off room, in an abandoned building, the Beast Master watched, with his two favorites laying next to him. He couldn’t see his “babies” with is eyes, being in a room with no windows, yet he knew exactly what they were seeing...and he was quite pleased. The hounds had found their prey and were now waiting for his command.
A command that he had given countless times before, in many different lands. A command that struck fear in the hearts of all those who had the misfortune of being in harm’s way, “Attack!”
****** “Look, I’m telling you guys,” Xander protested, “There is...was something out there. I don’t know where it is now, but I’m sure it’s still around.”
“But you didn’t get a good look at it, right?” Oz asked, throwing on his flannel shirt, “Maybe it was just a roaming dog.”
“Dogs don’t have day-glow yellow eyes. And dogs, even wet ones, don’t smell like something dead. This was not a dog. I...I have no idea what it is, but it definitely aint fido.”
“Xander,” Willow said, slightly annoyed, “It’s getting late...and we’ve already looked outside. There’s nothing there. Go home, and I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Why won’t anyone believe me?” Xander shouted in frustration, “I mean what will it take for you guys to take me seriously?!?”
As if on cue, all three teens heard the shattering of glass from inside the kitchen. Then another crash from one of the downstairs bedrooms. Oz reached for Willow instinctively and pulled her close to him. In a matter of seconds, both doors few open, and Willow, Oz and Xander stood face to face with two very large Hell Hounds. All were stunned into silence, unable to move.
It was a vision from the Apocalypse!
They looked vaguely like wolves, with pointed snouts, sharp teeth and course, thick fur. But that was where the resemblance ended. Their tails were long and scaled, and looked like a whip, with two pronged spikes protruding from the ends. Their ears were pointed, bare and laid flat against their massive heads, as they stood about four and a half feet high on all fours. At the end of each toe, was a razor sharp claw, that made a sickening scraping noise at they walked. The hounds were slightly taller at the shoulders, with long guard hairs on their backs, giving them an even scruffier appearance.
It was a vision they would not soon forget.
The two hounds split up and flanked the three humans, growling and hissing at them. Saliva dripped from their sharp teeth, and there was a hunger in their eyes, the likes of which none of them had ever seen. They where out to hunt, and Willow and the boys where their prey.
“Oh, God,” Willow trembled, holding tightly onto Oz, “What are those things? And, what do we do now?”
“I’m not sure,” Oz said, desperately trying to remain calm, “I would come up with a plan, but right now I’m too paralyzed with fear to think straight. How ‘bout you Xander? Any thoughts?”
“What,” He replied, as the three tried backing up slowly, “besides fighting the overwhelming urge to pee my pants? Nope, my thoughts are pretty much booked right now. Anyone have any weapons, like a stake...or a knife...or a flame-thrower?”
The hounds continued to slowly approach them, their nails clicking on the tile floor. The smaller of the two, looked dead into Oz’s eyes and growled. The other one quickly followed suit, switching its tail like a cat stalking a mouse. Then, they hunkered down on their haunches, and waited.
“What are they waiting for?” Xander asked, almost not wanting to know. “And why are they staring at you? What is it a doggie bonding thing?”
“Their not dogs,” Oz said, reiterating Xander’s first observations, “And I don’t think they’re trying to bond.”
“W-well, what do they want?” Willow began, but was stopped short by the piercing cries of the hounds as the leaped forth.
The smaller of the two, knocked into Xander, sending him flying back over a small table. At the same time, it took its’ barbed tail and swung it around to clip Oz in his right arm. He cried out in pain, and grasped his bleeding appendage, letting go of Willow. It was then that the larger of the two made its move, bounding passed the injured boys and headed straight for the young Witch. With one swift motion, it swept her up and crashed through the closed door, leaving a barrage of splinters in its wake.
“Willow!” Both Oz and Xander shouted, as they watched helplessly. But they didn’t have time to respond, before the smaller one attacked again.
This time, its intended victim was Xander, as it leapt onto the young man’s chest, digging its claws into his tender flesh. He could feel the intense pain of the nails piercing his skin, but wasn’t sure if it was as bad the crushing weight of the beast on top of him. He found it difficult to breath, or even think for that matter, as he saw the dripping fangs lowering to his face.
Xander Harris, senior of Sunnydale High, was about to die!
“Back off mutt!” Oz growled, driving a large kitchen knife into the side of the hound, “Go chew on a Milkbone!”
The hound howled in pain and turned to face its attacker. Blood was dripping from the wound, but the beast wasn’t down for the count, just yet. It hopped off of Xander, who tried to focus through the haze of pain, and swung its tail around, meeting Oz, full force, in the same arm it struck before. Only this time, the cut was significantly deeper. Oz stumbled backwards and tried to pick up the second knife he got from the kitchen, but found he couldn’t!
He lost his footing and fell to the floor. Oz desperately tried to grab the knife, but it kept slipping out of his hand, and he was rapidly beginning to lose focus. Too much blood loss, he thought dimly.
“I’m sorry Willow,” He moaned, as the world grew dark, “I love you.”
“Then you can tell her yourself,” Xander told his friend, as he reached for the knife and plunged it deep into the creature’s other side, “I am not going to tell Willow how I let you become a chew toy for some demon dog.” He held on to the struggling beast, driving the knife deeper and deeper, until it couldn’t go in any further. The hound tried to break free; growling, and scratching at the steadfast Xander, but soon fell to the floor with one final whimper.
Xander lay next to the beast, panting with exhaustion, and pain. He then crawled over to Oz, who had managed to prop himself up against the wall, “You okay?” he asked, as he reached for his friend’s bloody arm.
Oz smiled weakly, and said shakily, “Besides fighting that urge to piss my pants...just fine...” Then he passed out.
****** Cordelia had her headphones on, listening to a CD, and laying on her bed. When she wanted to get away from the family, this was her favorite device. With the music blaring, she could drown out the rest of the world, making the hurt go away...at least for the length of the song. And nothing could tear her away from her tunes.
But, if she had taken off the headphones, she might have heard the scraping on the outside wall of her house, as the large gray and black hound, climbed up the side of the building. Peering in through the closed window, it watcher her twirl her car keys in her hands, as she debated on disobeying Giles’ orders to stay at home. She finally decided to leave and sat up, lifting the headphones from her ears and giving a stretch.
Who cared what Giles’ thought, she was going out!
It was then that she saw the amber eyes looking through the glass...looking right at her.
Cordelia barely was able to get out a scream before the beast crashed through the window, and lunged at her. Acting on instinct alone, she reached for the only means of defense she had...a bottle of hairspray. As the creature dove for her, she aimed the can at its face and pressed the button. A fine mist of chemicals filled the air and saturated the demon’s eyes, causing it to fall back in agony. While it rubbed furiously at its burning eyes, Cordy raced for the door to her room.
She threw it open and barreled down the stairs, trying to gain as much distance from this strange animal as she could, before it recovered. As she raced passed her sleeping Mother, who was oblivious to her daughter’s peril, she could hear the scuffling of clawed feet coming from the upstairs. It was only a precious few moments before the creature would be flying down the stairs after her, and Cordelia knew that if she didn’t reach the safety of her car...she would never live to see her graduation.
She ran outside the house and headed for her car, when she heard the unearthly howls coming from inside the house. The hound had reached the front door! Cordelia, opened her car door and jammed her key into the ignition, trying desperately to start the engine. It sputtered and moaned, refusing to turn over, while the beast was only moments away from reaching the car.
“God, this is like some dumb horror movie,” she cursed at the car, “Start Goddammit!”
The engine finally whined to life, and the young woman slammed her foot on the accelerator, just as the hound leapt for her car. As she sped off down the road, she looked back at the creature, who was trying to keep up. It might have been quick, but it was no match for modern technology, and quickly gave up the chase, leaving Cordelia, racing off to the only place she knew of that might offer some form of protection...the Library...
****** Wesley, stopped pacing and sat down at the desk. He was alone, and feeling quite rejected. It wasn’t his fault that the Council fired Giles...or that he was chosen to replace him...and yet, he couldn’t help but feel that the very people he was supposed to be working with, regarded him as the enemy.
Of course it didn’t help that he made a complete ass of himself with the whole Faith issue. Buffy was right about one thing...he was supposed to be helping the troubled young Slayer, not making things worse. But what was he supposed to do? Watcher Protocols had strict rules about such matters, and who was he to question them? Look at Giles, he questioned the protocols...and they sacked him.
But deep down, he knew the older man was right. Deep down, he knew he was just a sniveling coward, pretending to be a competent Watcher, and failing miserably. Every time he tried to fit in, something happened to set him farther back. How was he ever to win their trust, when he didn’t trust himself not to run and hide at the first sign of danger?
And the only person who even gave him the time of day, was Cordelia, and she was just a child...
“Ohmygodohmygodohmygod...Wesley!” Cordelia panted, as she ran through the swinging doors, “Oh, Wesley, thank god you’re here!” She looked around and added, “Where’s Giles?”
Wesley sighed, utterly defeated, “He went to check on Mrs. Summers. She thought she heard something out in her yard.”
“Yeah,” Cordelia said, “well, if it’s anything like the ‘something’ that almost killed me, I would say they’re in alot of trouble.”
That got the Watcher’s complete attention, “Something tried to kill you?!? W-what?”
Cordelia began to explain what happened to her, when the phone rang. Wesley, not sure what to do, went over to the phone and answered it. “Yes? Hello Xander, where are y...what?! At the hospital!? What happened? No, Mr. Giles isn’t here...he went to Mrs. Summers’ home...my god, is he all right? Y-yes, she’s here right now. We’ll be right over. Don’t go anywhere.”
Cordelia looked at him and asked, “So, what did the looser want?”
“Xander wants us to meet him at the hospital. He and Oz where attacked by, what I suspect to be, the same creature that attacked you.”
“What was it?”
Wesley threw on his jacket as the two headed for the door, “I’m not going to make any guesses until I get a good look at the specimen first. Apparently, they managed to kill one of them, after its’ companion stole Willow.”
Cordelia looked at Wesley and sighed, “I’m really going to have to go away to college.”
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