Fic: Magister 3 (Vamp!Giles) FRT (5/?)
Ch. 5 - Found and Lost
Buffy took a deep breath of the pre-dawn air as she carried the last full trash bag out the back door. Tossing it into the can in the alleyway, she murmured, “Goodbye stereo. You were great while you lasted.” She turned home and stretched her back. It had taken her all night to clean up the living room. She’d sent Dawn and Willow to bed long ago, both of them already exhausted from their ghostly encounters. But the Slayer didn’t mind staying up alone to think. Something was preying on her family and friends. Something she had to figure out how to stop. Because, trying to end the world was one thing, but no one messes with the people she loves.
A movement along the roof caught her attention, and she quickly and gracefully maneuvered to intercept it. When the figure in black jumped down, she was there to grab it from behind.
“Oi!” it yelped. “What’s the big idea?”
Buffy pushed him away with a disgusted huff. “What are you doing here, Spike?” She pointed an accusing finger at him. “What did you steal this time?”
“Not a bloody thing.” The vampire smoothed out his leather coat. “Just followin’ orders an’ ckeckin’ up is all.”
“Who told you to check up on me?” the Slayer huffed. Spike just stared at her over his hand as he lit a cigarette. “Oh.”
“Made the wanker a promise. Not that I care what he says.”
Buffy could tell the blonde’s words weren’t exactly true. Not anymore at least. She sighed and sat down on the porch steps. “I wish you would have been here earlier.”
“I heard.” He sat with her. “That’s why I was up on the roof. The Nibblet told me what happened, and I said I’d sit outside her window and watch ‘til she fell asleep. Both of ‘em up there finally dozed off holding onto each other a few minutes ago.”
“Thank you, Spike. That was sweet of you.”
“Anything for the Little Bit. Also told her I’d hang out in the school basement tomorrow. In case she needs me. And in case you could use a hand, I guess.”
Buffy gave him a short, grateful smile, then put her exhausted head down into her hands. “What is this thing? It seems to be going after everyone around me. Willow said you and Giles have seen it, too. And now something’s attacking Dawn… and Mom. I don’t like it. This thing just needs to show its face so I can kick its ass.”
The vampire chuckled with understanding. “That’s the thing, isn’t it? Apart from Dawn’s little triumph tonight, there’s not been any ass to kick. Just a whole lot of talking faces.” He frowned. “Most of ‘em fondly remembered faces, too.”
“How do I protect the people I still have here to care about?” the Slayer whispered forlornly.
“I don’t know, luv,” Spike wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Maybe it will help to remember most of them are strong in their own right. Strong enough to be a help and not a burden.” He blew a puff of smoke. “Hell, when I heard Dawnie crying and went to peek in her window, she damn near gave me a bloody nose for my trouble. Then went on to describe just what kind of whoopin’ she laid on that spook earlier.”
Buffy glanced over at him as he gave his nose a rub for show. She giggled tiredly and leaned into his solid side.
******
“Rupert… Rupert go…” The voice kept whispering his name as he spun around, trying to get his bearings. “You must hurry…” it echoed. There were only flashes in the blackness surrounding him. Strange streets. Ancient houses. Bringers came at him with their knives, only to vanish as he raised his hands in defense. Girls ran past, panicked and being chased, then disappeared back into the void. “You need to go… GO NOW!”
Giles’ eyes sprang open and he lashed out at the nearest living thing. “Althenea?” he gasped, recognizing the voice in his head. A small squeaking captured his attention, and he lifted his hand to find a rat struggling for life in his crushing grip. Immediately loosening his hold, he lowered the animal to the floor and watched as it ran off down the narrow catacomb passageway.
The dream was still vivid in his mind, but it didn’t leave him uneasy or frightened. Someone out there was trying to communicate, trying to help and guide him. Someone not in league with The First. And the peace it left him with was as familiar as home. It could only be Althenea, along with the entire Devon coven. Only together could they have called on so much power. They could see the girls he was trying to save. They could see the war being waged around him. And now, they had let him know where he needed to go next.
******
“Is everyone here?” Buffy scanned her living room. Anya sat on the couch, as Xander finished boarding up the front window. Spike lurked in the doorway to the kitchen.
“No,” Dawn said, coming down the stairs. “Willow’s not home yet.”
“What is this all about?” Anya asked with a touch of impatience.
The Slayer took a deep breath. “I just think it’s time we’re all on the same page. Most of us have come under attack from whatever this is that’s trying to make its move. We need to talk about what to do before it causes real damage.”
“More damage than destroying your front room,” Xander quipped.
“It came after Dawn, and that’s not okay.”
The young man frowned seriously. “You’re right. So, with Giles somewhere out in the big wide world, and assuming the old boy over there isn’t holding out on us, where do we start?”
“Would say if I knew, welp,” Spike hissed. “Not here because there’s a party.”
“Spike wants to help,” Buffy stepped between them before the testosterone could really start pumping. “He’s offered to watch out for Dawn and Willow at night when I’m out. Seeing as I seriously can’t stand this monster trying to torture them anymore, I’m not inclined to tell him not to.”
Xander nodded solemnly and sat down next to Anya. “Well, I haven’t seen anything yet,” the ex-demon piped up. “Do we have anything to go on? Because starting at ghosts and poltergeists is not going to make the research any easier.”
“I think I found someone who can give us a few answers.” Willow walked in the front door pushing a young, spiky-haired man in front of her.
“Hey look,” Xander pointed. “It’s Tucker’s brother. This can’t be good.”
Dawn folded her arms and glared at him. “Andrew.”
“Yes. It is I, the once mortal foe of the Slayer.” Willow stepped up and pushed him down into the chair Buffy had plunked behind him. “But… I’m good now,” he squeaked.
“If you’re so good, why were you buying vast amounts of blood at the butcher’s shop?” the witch announced as Xander walked over with some rope and began tying his hands to the chair.
“Okay. I’m bad. I did bad things. But I can’t tell you. He wouldn’t like it.”
“Who wouldn’t like it?” Buffy asked, taking the same annoyed stance as her sister.
“No. I won’t tell you. I’m not a snitch!” Andrew screeched.
“Oh yeah,” Anya strode up to him and smacked him hard across the face. “I think we can make you.” She lifted her fist again, but Xander caught it before she could strike.
Andrew looked frantically from face to face for help, but all he found were passive shrugs. “Do you have something to say?” Buffy asked. “Because Xand just doesn’t want Anya to hurt herself. You see, she has a lot of aggression to let out, former vengeance demon that she is. And, sometimes she can overdo it. But he can always let her go if you want.”
“But,” Andrew whined, “he has power I don’t even know about. If I talk and betray him, he won’t like it.”
The Slayer sighed. “Well, if you don’t,” she glanced pointedly over at Spike, “’he’ won’t like it.” As the prisoner watched, Spike shifted into game-face for emphasis. “Now, who do you think will get to you faster?”
“Let me work on him for a while. I’ll tenderize him for the blood-sucker.” Anya lunged, making the young man flinch.
Buffy watched Andrew cower for a few more moments. Then shrugged and said, “Fine.”
Anya flew forward, knocking him backwards in the chair and perching on his chest as she flailed at him. “All right,” he screamed. “Get her off of me! It was Warren. Warren told me to do it!”
******
It was one of the oldest parts of the old city of Prague, and the unlit dirt and stone streets were drenched in deep shadow. Through those shadows an equally dark and stealthy figure was nearly unnoticeable as he stalked swiftly along the narrow throughways. The ancient houses flashed by before him, matching the strange sights from his dream, telling him which way to go. At last, he saw it in the distance, the heavy iron and oak door. It was the place the coven had seared into his mind.
Giles went into a sprint as he came close enough to see that the strong door was hanging oddly on its hinges, as if it had already been forced. Fearful he’d only find more bodies, he hit his target hard, pulling the door open and slamming it against the wall. He rushed forward only to bounce back off an invisible field. The vampire’s heart leapt at this evidence that the house's occupant was still alive, but instantly plummeted when he saw a man trying to fight off a group of Bringers just beyond his reach. It was his worst nightmare, having to watch, helpless as more people died in front of him.
“Invite me in! For the love of…” the vampire called out. He searched his mind frantically for something to make himself understood, but he’d never studied Czech. Desperate, he suddenly cried, “Inviti!”, hoping that anyone with Watcher or occult training must have some understanding of Latin.
But, even if the victim understood, a Bringer caught him by the throat, making sure he couldn’t call out. Against the wall near the door, a woman sat slumped and bloody. She lifted her head and managed a whisper so quiet that Giles’ enhanced hearing couldn’t catch it. But it was enough. In that instant the barrier shattered and the vampire was released.
He tore into the room, pulling Bringers off of his fellow Watcher faster than they could react. With the newfound help, the other man rallied, staying in the fight. And the better odds allowed him to show his skill, taking out the Bringer that held him before Giles even made it that far. The two men shared a glance, and in it an understanding. They stood back to back as more of The First’s henchmen arrived to help finish the job. But, between the flashing sword and flashing fangs, even this reinforced faction didn't stand a chance. When the last Bringer fell, the man spun, still in fighting stance, and stared at the vampire with deadly intent.
Giles stood perfectly still, his hands held out from his sides non-threateningly, and shifted his features back to his human form. He waited.
“Who are you?” the man asked in perfect English, but with a slight Italian accent.
“My name is Rupert Giles. I know this may seem hard to understand, but I am a Watcher. I believe I was sent here to find help by a powerful white coven.”
To Giles' surprise, the other man dropped his guard. “I have no reason to distrust your word, and Hanna has no time for me to waste.” He moved swiftly to the injured woman, checking her wounds. “Can you carry her?”
“Of course. Do you have somewhere safe we can get her cared for?”
“Follow me.” On the other man’s signal, Giles gently lifted the woman and followed closely behind him. They carefully made their way deeper into the ancient structure, until they entered a tiny, enclosed room. The vampire began to fear a trap. But, to his surprise, the other Watcher opened a trap door hidden in the corner and motioned him to enter. At the bottom of the stairs he was suddenly greeted with bright lights and sirens.
Giles kept careful hold of the woman as he was surrounded by four more men wielding sharpened batons.
“Stand down. And shut off those cazzo alarms!” his acquaintance shouted as he came down the stairs behind Giles. “Hanna needs the doctor, now.”
“What happened, Antonio?” another man asked as two more rushed the woman away. “Who is this? Those were the vampire wards that alarmed us.”
“This man saved our lives,” the apparent leader, Antonio, clapped Giles on the back. “I believe him when he says he’s one of us, whatever else he might be makes no difference.”
“But Hanna?” the subordinate continued.
“She tried to stop an attack by herself, purposely walking into an ambush instead of leading them to our door. If I hadn’t been coming back from my patrol, we might have never known what happened to her. They were too many for any one of us to fight alone. I was almost a goner as well, that is until this bruiser showed up.”
Giles nodded at his grateful smile. “Excuse my ignorance, but what exactly is this place?”
“Come,” Antonio led him forward into a large, communal dining area. When they entered, half a dozen young girls looked up. “This is our regional headquarters of the Watcher’s Council. We lost contact with everyone else a couple weeks ago, so we’ve been doing our best with what we have. Perhaps you have brought us some news, yes?”
******
“Get her off me!” Andrew squealed. “I said I’ll tell you.”
Anya glanced up at Buffy, who nodded for her to stop the attack. She made a show of not wanting to get off, but did so as Xander and Spike lifted Andrew and the chair upright.
“She’s insane,” the prisoner whined, and flinched when the ex-demon made for him again.
“Enough!” Buffy barked. “You said you had something to say, so talk.”
“Okay… It was Warren. He came to me and told me he needed my help. And I tried, but there wasn’t enough blood. I couldn’t open the Seal of Danzalthar--”
The newly boarded window crashed inward as a Bringer came right through it. Then another burst through the front door, then the back door. They seemed to keep coming. Willow, Anya, and Dawn moved to duck out of the way with Xander doing his best to cover them as Buffy and Spike tried to hold off the converging fronts. The Slayer saw one go straight for Andrew, raising its knife for a killing blow, and was just able to kick the prisoner out from under it. She caught the blow and directed it back into the attacker’s chest.
Dawn screamed, fighting for her life as another Bringer wrestled her to the ground while Xander and Anya were doing their best to fight two more away. It was Willow who managed to kick it off the younger girl and into the Slayer's grasp. Both fine, they got up to help the others. Buffy quickly snapped another Bringer’s neck before noticing a second attempt for Andrew’s life. The Bringer’s knife pierced his throat before she could pull it away. She killed it, and suddenly the attack ended as abruptly as it began.
Dawn and Willow hurried to Andrew, working fast to stop his bleeding. He was unconscious, but alive.
“Is everyone all right?” Buffy panted.
“Where’d Spike go?” Anya asked, looking around at the damage.
Dawn looked up. “I think I saw him push a group of them into the kitchen.”
The Slayer met Xander’s eyes, and together they hurried to the back of the house. All they found were a couple more bodies.
“You think Andrew wasn’t their only target?” Xander puffed.
Buffy glared out the demolished back door. “But what would they want with Spike?”
******
“We had our fears, but never guessed it could be so bad,” Antonio frowned as the group of Watchers and potentials sat listening to Giles recount recent events. “Do you know of any other regional cells that have survived?”
“Truthfully, until tonight I didn’t know about you. I’d always assumed that the Watchers assigned to potentials worked alone or in pairs.”
“Ah, that is normal protocol. But, when these attacks began and we lost some good people, we thought it’d be safer to gather everyone here. We couldn’t get any orders from the central headquarters, and now we know why,” he sighed. A stern-looking woman entered the room and caught Antonio’s attention. “How is she, Doctor?”
“Knocked around, but she’ll live. Hanna’s too stubborn to give up so easily.” The woman reached out to probe his bruised neck. “And are you going to let me check you out?”
“I’m fine,” he dismissed. “Thanks to our new friend here.”
“Hello,” Giles stood to shake her hand. “My name is Rupert Giles.”
She took his hand and looked at him oddly for a moment before smiling. “Mr. Giles… I knew your father. He was a good man. And he was always bragging about you.”
Giles ducked his head shyly. “I wish I could say I always gave him reason to.”
“Come, Rupert,” Antonio directed him back to the tables. “From the sound if things there is much to do and little time. Tell us what you need.”
The vampire scanned the eager and willing faces in astonishment. He hadn’t dared to hope that they’d be willing to help him, suspecting what they must of him. “Our first priority has to be saving as many potentials as we can,” he began. “I have a list of those the Council knew of, but I’ve only been able to find a few thus far. And not fast enough for all of them.”
“Then we split up, yes? More people, in more directions, moving fast as possible. But what do we do to protect them when we do find them.”
“We send them to the Slayer. It’s a lot to ask, but I know Buffy can help them.”
“You know her?” one of the potentials asked excitedly.
“This is the Slayer’s Watcher,” the doctor answered for him. Giles heard a wave of awed whispers run through the room.
Antonio took the list of names from Giles and turned to his Watchers. It was clear he was used to giving orders and having them followed. “We leave here as teams of two. Move fast and light. Try to avoid engaging The First and its followers if at all possible. Our mission is now strictly rescue. Teams will spread out from here. We need to cover Asia, Africa, and the rest of Europe. Then try to reach Australia and the Americas. The potentials we have here will accompany Mr. Giles back to his Slayer.” He turned to Giles. “Should we check in regularly with you at the Sunnydale headquarters?”
The vampire did his best to hold back laughter at the question. For so long it had been just him with no Council backup on the Hellmouth. He’d assumed that was how the Council ran everything. But now, seeing this organized group, and after Quinten’s confession, he realized it must have been Travers keeping them out of his way. Giles cleared his throat to hide his amusement. “We will be at the Slayer’s house. I can give you all that number. If you’ll check in every couple days, I’ll let you know if the coven has detected any addition girls in your regions.”
“Bene!” Antonio clapped his hands together. “It’s good to have a clear mission once again.”
Giles smiled at him, but before he could respond, grabbed his head and dropped it the floor in pain. Flashes blazed through his mind. He saw Sunndydale. The Scoobies under attack. No, but they were fine. Willow. Her eyes wide and filled with tears. “Please, don’t let me hurt anyone!” she cried. Black hands reached out for her from shadows, grabbing and dragging her away. Buffy tried to fight them, but Willow was slipping from the Slayer’s grasp.
The Watcher opened his eyes to a sea of concerned faces staring down at him. The doctor knelt at his side. “I have you, Rupert,” she whispered kindly. “Stand back. Give him some air.” Giles' eyes went wide as she touched him to check for his vital signs. If anyone had been in doubt of his true nature, they were soon to have conformation. But her kind brown eyes never changed at the feel of his cold, empty body. She smiled and winked at him.
“What happened?” Antonio grasped his shoulder.
Giles shook his head to clear it. “Another vision from the coven… I think.”
“More of us?” one of the girls asked.
“No. This one was about my friends in Sunnydale. They’re being attacked.”
“Then you must go help them.”
“Not with six frightened girls tagging along,” the doctor frowned at her leader.
“You’re right,” he puffed. “Well, Dr. Pryce, are you up for one more field mission?”
“I thought you’d never ask,” the elderly woman grinned. “Come with me, Rupert. Antonio can organize the Watchers from here. I will be the one to accompany the girls to your Slayer. As for you, I believe a translocation spell is in order. We have everything you might need.”
“Dr. Pryce?” Giles raised an eyebrow as she pulled him along.
“Ah, yes. I do remember you were one of those who knocked some worth into my grand-nephew. Thank you for that. I just wish you could have done something about that father of his.”