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Part Six
The hunter's cargo van pulled in across the end of the dirt road which led into the woods and stopped with the engine running. "Splendid." Rupert thought as he caught sight of their access blocked by heavy chain stretched between two cement posts. He turned around in the passenger seat to inform Matt of the problem, but his son was already on his way out the back carrying bolt cutters and a roll of wire.
Before the back doors of the van slammed shut Andy had keyed his radio. "Matt's gonna cut dat chain. You go down 'bout a mile, two - and come back. Over" Checking the side mirror to make sure Wesley was going to follow Sam's relayed instructions he absentmindedly scratched his chin with the antenna before replacing it into the base. As the green van pulled around them and continued on, the Hunter gave a slight nod of approval. At least one of these Council "types" would listen, but he wasn't sure about this one who was riding shotgun. Flicking on the emergency flashers he pulled a map out of the glove box and spread it over the steering wheel.
"What are you doing?" Rupert asked, incredulous at the attention getting actions.
"Couple car's coming. Best hiding is out in the open."
Giles turned back around in his seat and rolled down the window to warn Matthew of possible compromise, but he was nowhere to be seen. Andy laughed at Rupert's actions. "You kid hit da dirt ten seconds ago. He knows what to do - cut da chain and after you 'beau' comes through he will wire it back up so it looks all pretty." Giving the map a loud shake for emphasis he added a sarcastic statement. "We been doing dis for... awhile. Stick around and learn somet'ings."
Rupert kept his head slightly bowed but watched over his glasses as the oncoming vehicles sped by without the occupants giving them a second glance. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Andy giving him a smug "I told you so" smile. Giles reopened his book and adjusted his glasses, his only comment being, "Incidentally I did not appreciate the 'beau' insinuation." Without another word he turned his attention back to his reference.
"Whatevers." Andy said while refolding the map and giving it a toss into the back as Matt's "all clear" whistle cut through the air. Putting the van into reverse he backed up a few feet and made the turn. As they bounced down the weed choked road Andy reached over and flicked his finger on Rupert's reading material. "Find anyt'ings about dat cunja tote?"
Rupert pursed his lips and continued to scan the pages. "Ummm... perhaps. These charms seems to be the work of very powerful sorcery."
Andy hissed a bit under his breath and tightened his grip on the steering wheel. "Dat's a tas of help. Galee! Would have never got dat on my own."
"Oh, I believe you already knew it. As I also believe you are keeping something from me."
Blanchard ignored the pointed statement.
After giving Andy a few seconds to respond Giles began to state the known facts. "According to this reference the ability to perform this type of sorcery may be transferred two ways. Firstly, through the bloodline. As the biological family members pass away the natural ability or 'gift' as you call it distills in the eldest equally bestowed survivor. The second scenario is when the 'gift' is given to a spouse. It is rare, but no less powerful if there is a true bond between them. Emotional, intellectual, sexual... an all encompassing love which makes the tie that binds as strong as..."
Andy hit the brakes hard enough to cause the book to fly out of Rupert's lap. "We'll stop here." He literally growled.
"Stop the vehicle or stop the topic at hand?" Rupert questioned getting perturbed at the stonewalling. Blanchard slid between the seats went to the back of the van to collect his equipment. Giles got up and stood with his fingers interlaced in the cargo screen. "What really happened between your Aunt Teresa and Roth?" Leaning forward he watched as Andy purposely turned his back on him. Yes, he had hit a nerve and his companion's attitude was rapidly getting on his. Giving one of Xander's suitcases a kick to get Andy's attention he barked. "Damn you... answer me."
The hunter shot him a hateful look. "Occupez-vous de vos propres affaires!"
Giles took a step into the cargo area as his mind translated the reply. Mind my own business? He has the nerve to tell me to mind my own business while attempting to play linguist? With a haughty inflection Rupert answered back. "C'est mes affaires et il vous servirait bien a se rappeler cela."
Andy stopped packing equipment, surprise at the quick retort evident on his face for a split second. "Je vous vois parler français." He mumbled half under his breath.
With more than a touch of arrogance Rupert came in for the kill. "Mieux que vous faites Monsieur Blanchard. Votre accent est terrible."
"Not'ing wrong with my accent." Andy fumed.
"How strong is Roth? Tell me what we're facing, I have to know." Rupert stage whispered. "Matthew told me the circumstances of the affair and how Roth was banished from both the Blanchard circle and the Alliance. But his current strengths and weakness do not make sense. I have to know more."
"Giles don know shit... and neither do you." Andy let out a long hissing exhale and threw a punch into the side of the van. "Damn!" Then second hit to the metal - hard enough to leave a dent. "Damn!" Rupert went toward Andy but drew up short when the man whirled around in the close confines and jabbed his finger at him "Back off... You want to know? Then I tell you. Aunt Teresa was nineteen when she ran off with him. They were gone for almost two years."
"She left with him? Matthew's version was..."
"He knows da 'version' we tell. We tell it so many times we believe it." Andy interrupted. "Mais, truth is - after two years Poppa and Uncle Michael find out they are up in Memphis, married by a judge so dat don count. Michael drags Teresa out of da shithole apartment and puts her and baby T.Paul in da car and brings them back home. Poppa waits in da dark for Roth to come home from work and beats da piss outta him."
"T.Paul.. was his son?" Rupert felt a chill as this sunk in. "My God... he murdered his own son."
Andy gave a grim nod of confirmation. "Yes, and if you want to get nit-picky Teresa was still his femme. When they brought her back, T.Paul went to live with Sam's people for 'bout two years - they told everyone he was Sam's, mother's, cousin's baby from over in Galveston. Then Teresa married Don Jeanmard and they adopted him back. He never knew da truth."
"This sheds light on his hatred... but why? Why in God's name did your family destroy his?"
"Aunt Teresa was born a Blanchard, she was chosen to be a hunter. You don run away from family, you don run away from duty. Try either and da devil will be paid." Andy's eyes narrowed. "You are a Watcher, you should know dat."
Rupert sat down on a stack of boxes and rubbed his forehead. "Only too well." He confirmed. "You have no idea how much the Alliance and Council have in common."
"Yeah." Andy grudgingly agreed. "Look! Da others are here. So tell me, does it make a difference dat they were married?"
"Perhaps, she had two years to instruct him, to pass the 'gift' to him."
Andy nodded and opened the back doors. "Wait, just thought of somet'ing. Teresa really didn't want to come here. Even though it was her boy laying dead she almost stayed in Salt Lake."
"This area is under the Council's jurisdiction..."
"No, no... screw dat. We don care about dat." Andy stepped out and glanced at the others getting out of Wesley's van assessing if they were close enough to hear him. "She did not want to come 'cause of da Hellmouth." He pursed his lips and thought for a second. "Remember dat shitdead in da tree I told you about? It told you pals it was here 'cause Roth needed da Hellmouth."
"Is Roth now the only one in possession of this sorcery?"
"No, Junior's little one, Sheri she has it. And..." Andy turned pale and gulped. "...and she said... she told me just last spring, at Carnival time, dat Anne and my baby is gonna be just like her. Five years old and she tells us dat.... and Anne she was only pregnant six weeks then."
"Who's pregnant?" Buffy butted in giving Giles her best accusing look.
"A five year old and an unborn baby." Giles mumbled. "How strong is she? Has she received instruction?"
Buggy arched an eyebrow. "Say what?"
Andy shook his head. "No, we know she has it because of da things she says and sees. But, instruction? No - not until she is older, becomes a woman, starts...ah, has.
Giles waved his hand. "Yes, yes... I understand, goes through puberty and all that. Very good plan but who has the full gift now?"
"Welcome to the middle of the movie." Buffy told to the others as they approached the work van. "If you can figure it out, you're doing good."
With a wave of the hands to punctuate each word Andy began to think outloud. "Teresa got all da gift when Great-Mamere Savoy died. Now Sheri should have it all. But now dat bastard is strong enough to make cunja totes."
"The Hellmouth... of course!" Giles yelled jamming a fist into his open palm.
Willow leaned beside Buffy at the van door. "Okay, I'm totally, like lost here."
"Don't feel like the Lone Ranger." Matt added while snapping his fingers at the two men. "Does this have anything to do with 'here and now'?"
Rupert crawled back to the front of the van to retrieve his book. "Roth is dead so it has to be taken not given."
Matthew shook his head and raised his voice. "Whatever, let's get our gear and head out. Sam, you wanna set Red up with the van keys and radio?"
"Mr. Blanchard! Do you have a cell phone?" Giles shouted from the front of the van.
"Glove compartment." Matt answered in Andy's place.
Giles dug it out and tossed it to Andy. "Call your wife and your sister-in-law. They must go somewhere safe and take the little girl....ah, Sheri. Warn them that Roth's agents will be coming for them; to take them away; to bring them here."
"Would someone please explain?" Wesley asked quite loudly.
Waving the charm reference book Rupert hopped out of the van. "This sorcery is first hereditary, parent to child. Secondly between... ah.. couples. It passes to survivors. Survivors! But Roth is dead, or undead, or... oh hell, whatever." Rupert began to get somewhat flustered as his mind tried to make sense of the facts. "To amass this sorcery in himself he needs the power of the Hellmouth. First he lures... ah, Teresa's son here, kills him to bring her here, kills her which brings the Blanchard men in, distracting them, pulling them away from home... but he would not, should not, want them here."
Andy connected. "Cher, don even pack just get out and..."
"My place!" Sam shouted.
"...and go to Sam's. Call Sue, tell her to grab Sheri and do da same. Then get Charlie - have 'em send every available body down to da Island. I'll call back tonight." He paused to take a breath and swallowed hard. "Be careful, adieu." He abruptly hung up.
"You always give your wife marching orders like that?" Buffy asked in an icy tone.
"Cordonnier est maitre chez lui." Andy answered sharply while walking over toward Wesley's vehicle. "I need to take a piss."
With a huge roll of the eyes Willow gave Buffy a nudge. "The first part was something like 'the man is the master of his house'. See four years of French comes in handy."
"And we sure know what the second part was. What a real Neanderthal, huh? Someone should clue him in as to what century we're in."
Matt came up to them. "Oh yeah, he's the master all right. If Anne heard him say that he'd spend the rest of his life sleeping on the back porch." He pulled his weapons bag out of the van and slammed the door. "Well boys and girls are we ready to rumble?"
"Let's do it!" Buffy chimed. As she and Wesley followed Matt away from the vans.
Sam snapped the leashes onto the catahoulas handing Ring's lead to Willow. "Now if he starts to act like he sees somet'ing you take it to heart." A worried frown crossed his face. "You still got da keys and da radio?"
"Yeah, remember you gave them to me two minutes ago?" Willow flipped her hair as they started out through the woods. "Hey, I'm okay. I mean, I've only been caught by the bad guys two or three times and one of them was by my mom. But she really didn't mean to try to burn me at the stake, she was under the influence of that German demon."
"Only two or... why do you stay here?"
Willow smiled at Sam. "Why not? Fun, fun, fun."
Landry shook his head. "I don understand California."
Andy came back around to see everyone leaving. Rupert stood at the edge of the woods and held up the hunter's weapons bag.
As Andy approached him Rupert studied the look on the young man's face. Instinctively he knew. He sighed and looked away as he handed the bag off to Blanchard. "No answer?" He asked softly.
"Answering machines - my house, Junior's house, Sam's house." Andy curtly answered. "But Charlie's on it."
Giles tapped his finger on his crossbow. "And so are we."
"Damn right... damn, damn right."
In single file the group picked their way through the hundred yards of brush to the edge of the slope. Matt dropped to one knee and focused the binoculars on three figures near the road. "RED! CHANGE OF PLAN! - HEAD OUT, NOW!"
Willow jumped at the shouted commands. "W-w-hat?"
Matt tossed the binoculars to Andy and jabbed his finger first at Willow then toward the hidden vehicles. "They're out, all three of them down by the road. Looks like John is hurt. Go pick 'em up Red... MOVE IT SWEETHEART!"
Willow took off for the van dragging Ring behind her.
"What da HELL?" Andy shouted. "Kid's trying to flag down a car and Junior's goin' back in - solo. Side door 'bout halfway up." With this he charged down the slope at a dead run.
"God-damnit, Hurricane! Wait up!" Matt yelled as he followed Blanchard, catching up with him at the edge of the parking lot.
"This is getting.. interesting" Wesley puffed as they scrambled down the hill.
"Yup, I'd call it that." Buffy laughed. "Bet we're gonna have to tie 'Hurricane' up before this is over." She looked over her shoulder at Sam. "Why they call him that?"
"Hurricane Andrew, Aout 92." Sam stooped to disentangle Peekon's leash from a branch. "Believe - it fits."
"Without question." Wesley agreed.
As soon as the others approached Matt pointed toward Andy who was halfway to the road. "Okay, he's going to check on John's condition and find out what Xander knows. I'll give him that. We're going on in and hopefully catch Junior before he tries some 'Custer's Last Stand' shit or Roth bails on outta here."
"The vampire is not planning on leaving." Rupert countered. "He cannot until his pack brings back the child from..."
"Your wrong Old Man, Roth's gonna blow outta..." Matt tried to interrupt, but Giles kept on.
"...Louisiana. Consequently, since all the captives have freed themselves it would make sense to..."
Matt spit and left for the bakery door. "Screw it! We're doin' it now! Whoever's with me, let's go in." Sam glanced back and forth between Matt and Rupert and followed the hunter.
Giles finished his sentence through gritted teeth. "...to bring Junior out and reassess the situation." He stopped and looked first at Wesley then Buffy. "Well?"
Wesley took off his glasses and held them up to examine for specks. "Simple Mr. Giles, I cannot and will not condone putting our own interests at risk to follow that lad off on some ill-timed, ill-planned crusade." He replaced his glasses and adjusted his tie. "So, in a nutshell - this is an Alliance... difficulty and it is time we returned to Sunnydale proper."
"Slow down Wes!" Buffy said with a wave of the hand. "I'm the Slayer, remember.. chosen to, like slay vamps? And there's a vamp in there; and Giles knows about this sorcery stuff even though Mr. Happy won't listen to him; AND it's still my turf, no matter whose problem it is."
"I forbid it, end of discussion." This said, Wyndam-Pryce turned and headed back up the hill listening as the rustle of Rupert and Buffy crossing the last few yards of dry leaves turned to the sound of their footsteps on the asphalt lot. Wesley stopped and turned to watch their overt disregard of his direct orders, at that point what appeared on his face was the biggest smile since he had arrived in Sunnydale.
*~*~*~* "Glad you could join us." Matt dryly said as Rupert, Wesley and Buffy came through the door. "Is Andy comin'?" He asked nobody in particular.
Wesley peered around the empty room, frowning as his eyes adjusted from the bright sunlight to the illumination of a single row of fluorescent tubes. "Willow just arrived, it appears she was dragging that chain which 'was' across the road leading into the woods. Xander and Andy are unwrapping it from the front bumper."
Matt nodded at the information. "Didn't even slow down huh? Good girl... maybe she should sign up along with Xander." He gave Rupert a sidelong leer. "Bet I could corrupt her too."
Giles was not amused but he was not going to allow Matt the pleasure of getting his goat. "Any sign of Junior?" He asked while walking toward the center of the room.
"Sam took five to see if Peekon could track 'em down." Matt said as he joined Rupert's side. "So, Old Man you know the layout in here?"
"Xander told me about this place. His Uncle used to work here." Buffy offered. "Said the baking started downstairs, the oven was two story so the bread came out on the ground floor where it was wrapped and shipped out." She pointed to a row of dark windows that lined a balcony style walkway above the empty room. "Those must be the main offices up there. He said that the owners could look out their windows to check and see how much bread was moving through." She frowned and walked slowly to the center of the room and stood there with her hands on her hips.
"And this place has been empty a year? So what's with the lights?" Matt asked.
"The building is for sale, use your head." Rupert muttered.
"Excuse the hell outta me, Old Man." Matt headed toward the far stairwell that Sam had went down minutes before. As he passed Buffy on the way he told her. "Sister, I'm going to see if they are coming, try to keep those two from wandering off."
"Yeah, right... got any rope?"
"We should stay together." Giles called after him.
Matt ignored Rupert's statement and disappeared down the steps. Not thirty seconds later Andy came in, alone.
"Where's Xander?" Wesley and Giles asked in unison.
"Taking Poppa to da 'opital, he's bad, bad." Andy stood there out of breath, looking around for the others. "Where da hell did..."
"There, thank God." Rupert answered the unfinished question as Peekon came bounding up the stairs with the other three close behind. Andy took a step toward the others only to be stopped by Rupert's hand on his shoulder. "Can you talk some sense into him?" Giles asked quietly. "It would be better to make Roth come to us on our terms. He has to come to the Hellmouth, I'm sure of it."
Andy's eyes darted back and forth between Giles before him and Matt a hundred feet away. "Were is da Hellmouth?"
As the hunters had emerged from the stairwell and began to cross the room Buffy joined them. "So what's down there?"
"Rooms." Came Matt's nonanswer followed by a snide remark as he noticed the conversation at the door. "What are they doin', arranging a triple date?"
Peekon trotted up to Buffy and began to sniff around her feet. A low rumbling growl came from his throat as the fur went up on his back.
"What'sa matter pooch? Vampire dust on my shoes?" She asked taking a step back.
From beneath the spot where the Slayer had stood a loud popping, hissing noise began to surge through the floor. The tile squares quivered and shook free from their places skating across their brethren as under them the floorboards began to twist.
"EARTHQUAKE!" Buffy screamed leaping to safety as an arc shaped section of the floor collapsed, splitting the two groups apart. A sickly yellow-green mist boiled out of the hole and another jolt shook the room knocking all present off their feet. Face down on the ground Matthew and Sam felt the mist envelope their legs then a heartbeat later the floor beneath them begin to disintegrate. As they began to slide into the deepening hole both men scrambled to get a hold on the eroding edge of the pit. Junior flopped belly down at the brink and grabbed them, each by a wrist as the last bit of support beneath them gave way. The combined hanging weight of his comrades began to pull Junior in. Buffy dived forward, wrapped her arms around the hunter's legs and pulled with all her being.
From across the chasm Wesley, Rupert and Andy watched helplessly as Sam and Matt hung in midair over the swirling mist. Junior's face contorted as he tried to summon the strength to pull his friends up. Behind him, Buffy strained to keep all three from plunging to their deaths.
Buffy's shoes squeaked on the tile as the weight carried her forward a few inches. Junior's chest was now almost completely over the edge. "My God! We have to do something!" Wesley shouted.
"Buffy! You have to release your hold and each of you pull one up!" Rupert yelled.
Matt twisted a bit and looked up into Junior's face and then over at Sam. Without a second thought he released his own hold on Juniors' wrist as in the same instant he brought his free fist up and around slamming his knuckles into the top of Blanchard's hand. Junior inhaled with a hiss as his grip involuntary released. The sensation of Matt's fingers slipping away burned into his brain. In the same instant that Matt's weight dropped away Buffy's Slayer strength immediately began to pull the two men back up to safety.
Rupert froze in horror as Matthew plunged silently into the void. His mind whirled as it digested what had happened, his vision tunneled on the spot where his son had hung for less than a minute. Wesley and Andy came up on either side of Giles each offering a steadying hold onto shoulders and upper arm. Only as the touch of others registered did Giles finally take in a sharp breath and moan. "Oh my God....."
"Steady." Wesley whispered as he tightened his grip on Rupert's arm. He licked his lips and tried to think of proper words but none were forthcoming.
On the other side of the crater Sam knelt at the edge, crossing himself offering a prayer. Buffy crouched beside him, shaking slightly, hand over her mouth, eyes fixed in a thousand yard stare into the hole. Junior held is hand up and watched a line of bruising begin to darken across the top of it. "Adieu, bon ami... adieu." He murmured picking up Matt's satchel and dropping it into the chasm. This motion broke the shock.
"ROTH!" Andy screamed his voice echoing in the room. "You gon dance to an Alliance tune."
Sam rose to his feet his voice becoming a growl. "Danser comme un d'inde la cendre chaude... yes, yes." He offered Buffy a hand up. "He will dance lika turkey in hot ashes... you like dat idea?"
Buffy tore her eyes from the mist shrouded hole. "Oh, I can think of worse. But that sure as hell will do as a start."
"Hey!" Junior shouted to get the attention of the others. He pointed to a doorway under the balcony. "Go out, break da glass on da shop window you can come back in through there."
As if waiting for this cue the glass in the office windows overlooking the main floor exploded showering those nearest with shards and bits of casing. Swirling and hissing the mist again rose to the top of the hole. The floor creaked, vibrated and reformed sealing the hole like a tomb.
"Not exactly the way I planned, but it will do."
As one all turned their attention to the sound of Roth's voice coming from one of the deserted offices along the balcony. Buffy shook the broken glass from her hair and stepped back to get a better view. "Come on down here and play." She taunted.
"And you are?"
"I'm Buffy the vampire Slayer, and you are a vampire. See how this works?"
"Oooo, I'm terrified. I think I should flee." The disembodied voice taunted.
Sam unsnapped Peekon from his lead and whispered a command. The catahoula began to stalk up the metal stairs to the second level followed by Junior and Sam.
Buffy's face screwed up into an exaggerated pout. "Naaa, that wouldn't be any fun. Come on out so I can get a look at you."
"Keep him talking..." Rupert thought to himself as he slowly picked up his crossbow. Andy loaded a bolt into his weapon and focused on the empty windows trying to pinpoint the vampire's hiding place.
"I have a better idea, Slayer. You take your friends and leave. This is not your fight."
Rupert's voice carried across the room. "In that, you are mistaken. You just killed my son."
A cackle of laughter greeted this information. "Killed? I saw it as a suicide. Cowardly little bastard would rather die than fight." The vampire again broke into laughter.
Rage overpowered grief; pure hate shoved aside reason; Giles fired his bolt at the mocking sound the action rewarded by a screech of pain - then silence. Rupert lowered the crossbow and stared upward at Junior and Sam who had reached the balcony. All held their breath as Peekon trotted down the length of the walkway sniffing for his prey. The catahoula paused not once as it passed the window through which the bolt had flown.
"I be God-damned... you got 'em." Andy muttered.
"If so, it was much to quick." Rupert answered through the lump that was reforming in his throat.
Buffy smiled and jabbed her fist into the air. "All right, way to go!"
"My turn." Roth said from the entry to the downward leading staircase as he released a dart toward Buffy. She felt the sharp sting as it plunged into her shoulder and instantaenously the room began to spin. "Kill them!" Roth commanded as he stepped back through the doorway to allow his demon minions to pour through. "Then you may enjoy the corpses, however you desire."
Calling on a speed and physical strength born of adrenaline, Wesley sprinted toward Buffy catching her as she fell backward. He hoisted the unconscious Slayer over his shoulder and got her out the door to the relative safety of the parking lot.
Andy's shot went wide of the mark and smashed into the cement blocks two feet from Roth's body. The vampire did not even flinch at the sound. Unconcerned, he observed Rupert's motion as the man loaded another bolt and took aim. Vampire and humans eyes locked for the briefest of moments before Roth stepped out of the path of the bolt and headed down the stairs.
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