Amanda the Vampire Slayer: Siege
by GPN
Siege

“So how did tonight’s patrol go?” Morgan asked the two exhausted Slayers, Amanda and Claudia, as they returned from their nightly patrol. It was almost four in the morning.
“Tired,” Claudia said.
“Gonna crash,” Amanda added, as both walked past her in a daze towards their rooms.
“I see…” Morgan mumbled, shaking her head. It hadn’t even been a week since Kennedy and her “judges” had arrived. Since then, Claudia had been pushing herself harder and harder to be the best Slayer she could be. She was determined not to stay what Kennedy had said about her remain true, though she had told Morgan that she wasn’t too upset with Emily. “She was a nice girl, she was only doing her job, and she was right.” She had said.
Morgan had been pushing the girls harder, and they felt the pressure; not only from the training exercises, but because the demonic presence in Brasepoint had nearly tripled two nights ago. The evil hordes were charging around town, terrorizing people and stealing, killing, and destroying. Amanda and Claudia had their hands full as it was. In fact, Morgan was surprised the girls weren’t more exhausted. Perhaps I should send them out on shifts… Morgan wondered, rubbing her chin as she walked to the Hotel’s makeshift library.


Amanda walked into to her room and pulled off her weapons and gear, but didn’t remove her clothes, and collapsed into bed. . She rolled over onto her side and after a few moments of staring absently at the ceiling, she fell asleep.
It was the stage again, the same stage she had been to time and time again. Though his time she didn’t start out alone. Looking around she saw Morgan, Claudia, Gideon, and Joshua standing at random places around the stage. She walked toward Morgan.
“Morgan?” She said, worried about what the dream had in store for her this time.
As she got closer, she noticed it was not Morgan, but a statue. Quickly running up to the other members of her group she saw that they were all statues!
“What’s going on here?” She whispered.
“A taste of things to come my dear.” That oh so familiar voice rang out, though this time, instead of appearing behind her, Armand fell from above and landed right in front of Amanda in a crouch with one hand to the floor and the other to his side. He stood up and brushed off his red robes. “You should have accepted my offer, Amanda. You could have stood side by side with me and served The First when he took over the world.”
“So he’s a he, huh?” Amanda narrowed her eyes, and then rolled them. “Why can’t these ancient evils ever be women…?” She mumbled. Her attitude toward this villain had changed a lot in the previous months. She used to be a shy, lonely girl. Having so many friends and sponsors now was changing her attitude. She realized she was finally beginning to break out of her shell.
Armand chuckled softly at her statement. “Actually he is neither male nor female, though he prefers to be referred to as a male.”
“So kinda like God, huh?” Amanda chuckled, remembering a recent discussion with Joshua about the “gender” of God. Joshua had said that He is neither a he nor she, but asks man to refer to Him as “Father.”
Armand looked like he was about to retch at the thought, “My master is FAR more powerful than your puny God! He will burn this pathetic world to the ground! He will rule as king on its ashes and all others will be under him!” he spat.
Amanda held up her hands in defense. “Hey, lighten up. Now did you want something specific, or did you just bring me here to discuss religion and politics?”
Armand’s mood seemed to soften. “As I was saying, this is a taste of things to come.” He approached Amanda slowly, and put his hand on her brow, stroking a finger down her face. “Your friends will be destroyed, this city and its people will be destroyed, and you will be destroyed.”
Amanda tried to pull away but found she couldn’t. Some invisible force was holding her in place.
“This is your last chance Amanda, join me and save yourself and your friends, or refuse me and burn with them when I cleanse this town of all mankind!” Armand snarled.
Amanda found could move again as Armand pulled away. She stepped up to Armand and looked at him face to face. “I would rather die with my friends than damn myself and them with my selfish decision, and I am sure they would agree with me. I’m not some stupid kid anymore Armand. And sooner or later, I’m going to find out where you are, and when I do, I will kill you.” She said very softly.
Armand snarled and pulled back. “You stubborn girl! Soon, you shall see who I truly am, the ancient power I wield! I will kill you very slowly Amanda. I will crush your skull and devour your flesh!” Armand’s voice became very deep and gravely. “Tonight I will make an example you will never forget. I hope you sleep well Amanda, because after dusk your friends shall DIE!”
Armand raised his hand and the statues crumbled. He gave a deep, grave laugh and once more snapped his fingers, causing Amanda to wake up in a panic and sit straight up in her bed. She wiped her hair out of her eyes, panting. She was drenched with sweat. She checked the clock.
“Four in the afternoon…” She said, yawning and climbing out of bed. Though she had just slept for nearly 12 hours, she still felt exhausted. “He’ll be here soon.”


Armand walked down the line of demonic soldiers in his assault squad. Several dozen vampires mixed with demons, though the vampires still outnumbered them. Armand stepped in front of a huge horned demon with a golden nose ring. The demon looked almost like a Minotaur of old legend. He carried a battle-axe with a blade that was bigger than Armand’s whole body.
“Vritra,” Armand said to the massive beast. “You shall march on the Hotel at dusk. Remember, I want them all killed, except Amanda. I want her to see the pain her defiance has cost her. Bring her to me alive, if possible. If not, leave her there. She will find me eventually and on that day I shall crush her.”
Vritra bowed respectfully, even though to the casual observer it looked as if the monster could crush Armand easily. “Yes my Master.” He said, raising his head. He barked several orders to his horde as they began to take up positions to the other sewer exits of Armand’s lair, preparing to move the moment the sun dropped below the horizon.


Without changing once again, Amanda ran down into the main meeting area in the sewers. She found it odd that at first she heard music, and then the sound of many people walking at the same time. When she reached the catwalk and looked down, she saw that several of the gang members were dancing, along with Morgan and Joshua, who were dancing together, and Claudia who was dancing with some other boy Amanda didn’t recognize. Gideon was sitting on one of the boxes, next to a boom box. He was smiling as the kids danced and had a good time.
Immediately Amanda felt upset for not being woken to join in the dancing. Then she remembered she had much more important things to do. She ran through the dancing kids to Gideon.
“We have a big problem Gideon,” Amanda said, panting as she came up to him.
Gideon chuckled, holding his nose. “I’ll say, when’s the last time you bathed?”
Amanda blushed a bit, suddenly realizing how bad she smelled. “I’ll do it after I talk to you.”
“Okay, what is it?” Gideon said, growing more concerned.
“Not here, let’s go somewhere more private.” Amanda said, taking his hand and dragging him to the conference room. “What’s going on anyway?” She asked on the way.
“Ah, you walked into our Annual dance.” Gideon replied. “Something we do every year; keeps the kids spirits up.”
“Oh, I see.” Amanda said, releasing Gideon’s hand as they approached the conference door.
“We tried to wake you, but you were totally out,” Gideon shrugged, sitting down into the conference room chair. “Now what’s going on?”
Amanda paced, playing with her hands nervously. “I didn’t wake up because I was having another vision. Armand came to me in my dreams again; he said he would make an example’ of us tonight. I think he’s sending something tonight, something really bad.”
Gideon looked more worried. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, we need to get ready. He said he would come at dusk, which is only…”
“…a couple hours from now, yes.” Gideon finished for her. He sighed heavily. “Okay, we do have plans if we ever came under siege. Go get ready, tell Joshua, Angelina, and,” he paused, then continued “And Claudia.”
“What’s wrong?” Amanda asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Claudia, I still don’t trust her. For all we know she could have told him where we were!” Gideon snapped, standing suddenly.
“As I said before, Armand already knows where we are,” Amanda said while leaning against the wall with her arms crossed.
“It’s possible,” Gideon said. “But how do we know this ’supposed’ amnesia is real?”
“If she betrays us, I will take care of her. I am the only one here that can beat her, understand?” Amanda said with authority in her voice.
Gideon nodded slowly. “Very well, let’s get ready then.”


Amanda had just stepped out of her room and was drying off her long hair when several of the gang members nearly ran into her, as they charged through the halls carrying weapons.
“We’re under attack already?” She asked herself. It wasn’t even 5pm yet. She threw the towel in her room and rushed down the hall to join the others. She was wearing red jeans and a brown jacket, the same one she had taken with her into the Hellmouth, though she had washed the blood off since then. As she neared the sewer meeting place, she heard Gideon’s booming voice.
“Lock them down, lock them all down! We don’t want any surprises from the sewers!” He yelled as Amanda ran down the catwalk with Dawn of the West drawn. Gideon turned to her.
“Watch your step Amanda,” he said. “We have a few traps in place in case they get this far.”
“They?” Amanda asked.
“Yes, they. Scouts reported a massive group of demons and vampires moving through the sewers in our dungeon. We’re locking the gates and Joshua is working on a ‘blessed lock,’ as he calls it that will keep them from even touching the gates. Hopefully we’ll force them above ground so we can beat them back from the main entrance just in case we are overrun and have to activate Plan Beta; we have taken all personal items, clothes, and extra weapons into storage. That means they’ve been boxed up and are going out with the first group through the sewer.” He responded, turning back to a group of gang members who were standing at attention next to him.
“All right, squad leaders will be myself, Cooper, and Ryan. My group will hold them off at the door, Cooper’s will flank us to the right and left, beating back any that get through, and Ryan’s group will protect the back sewers in case we have to go to Plan Beta.” He said to his troops, who confirmed his orders and ran off to their tasks.
“Plan Beta?” Amanda asked curiously.
“Yes, just a little contingency plan in case we get overrun. At least some of us will survive.” Gideon said with half closed eyes. “That sewer doesn’t connect to any other that the demons are using; hence it’s the perfect escape.”
“What sort of contingency plan?” Amanda asked.
“If we come to that, you’ll see.” Gideon responded. “Now, Morgan, Joshua, and Claudia are taking the front lines like I am, you in?”
Amanda nodded. “You bet.”
Gideon was about to speak again when Joshua approached him. “Hey Gid, I’ve been working on something that may help us in this situation.”
Gideon turned around, wincing a bit from the nickname. “What is it?”
“Something that should give the vampires, at least, a hard time once they come back to the surface, but I need some help.” Joshua said.
“What are you planning?” Gideon said, rephrasing his earlier question.
“I’d actually rather not say, don’t want to get anyone’s hopes up. I don’t even know if I have enough faith to make it work.” Joshua shrugged.
Gideon sighed. “Very well, what do you need?”
“Just to see if you can do without me for a little while. Also someone to help me get through the sewers. They won’t be in any danger, I assure you, I just need a good sot outside to set up,” Joshua smirked.
Gideon nodded slowly, a bit unsure what the man was talking about. “No problem.” He turned to some of the younger kids with no fighting experience. “Stacy, Susan, Lionel, and Todd, come here for a moment please.”
Four kids approached, looking a bit scared. There were two twin girls, maybe about fourteen. They had short blonde hair and bright blue eyes. Lionel and Todd were both black kids who also looked like siblings, though not twins. One was taller than the other was and looked about 16. The younger looked about 13. They both had short, black hair.
“Want to help this priest out on some crazy plan of his?” Gideon chuckled.
The two girls grinned immediately. “Sure!” They said in unison.
“Sounds like fun!” The younger boy said enthusiastically. The older nodded as well. “Yeah, we never get to do anything around here.”
“Good,” Joshua said. “I need you to bring him though the sewers and up onto the hill outside the hotel. We need to leave through the sewers and try to cut off the group of demons and vampires, but not to engage them of course.”
The four kids nodded and Joshua led them out of the hotel.
“They should be fine,” Gideon said, more trying to reassure himself than reassure Amanda. “The demons are coming straight for us, if they stay well out of their way, they should be passed over completely.”
“All right, where do you want me at the moment?” Amanda asked.
“Just pick up as many supplies as you need and meet me back at the entrance. We’ll try to hold them as long as possible.” Gideon said while walking to pick up his axe.
Without speaking, Amanda turned and ran to the weapon room. She picked up three stakes, put them through loops in her belt and picked up an axe, which she swung around her back to help her in case something happened to her Slayer Sword. Then she ran to the hotel entrance.


“How much further, Father Joshua?” One of the girls whined for the fourth time. Joshua didn’t mind. He enjoyed the company of children.
“Just a little more sweetheart, you kids are keeping up well.” He said as he charged up a short hill and stopped. “Okay, this will do. That manhole down there,” he pointed to a manhole he could barely see half a mile away “is the closest one to the Hotel. They will spill out there, or further on the opposite way as soon as night falls.”
“And what do you want us to do?” The older boy asked.
Joshua smiled nervously. “Pray for me. Pray that I will have the faith to do this. Pray like only an innocent child can.”
All four children looked a bit confused, but, remembering the churches they had been to, laid hands on him and asked God for help. They prayed for him while he began to intercede on the hotel’s behalf.


Soon enough, the demons banged at the bottom sewer grates, but screeched in pain as it burned their putrid skin.
Amanda took a deep breath when she heard the news. They would be coming soon.

Armand looked through his mirror, watching his horde trying to smash down the sewer gates only to be repelled by the blessing. He shook his head. “I told that idiot to wait until AFTER dusk, and then come out of the sewers from above!” He snarled. “I knew they would try that trick!”

As dusk came, Amanda looked through the window and saw the group charging toward the Hotel. She bit her lower lip as she watched the massive creature in the middle barking orders.
“Not sure if I can kill that…” She mumbled.
“Get ready! Here they come!” Gideon shouted as his people raised their weapons and prepared for the onslaught of the coming horde. Amanda jumped from her viewing spot and took up position in the front of the entrance, standing right in the front line as Buffy had done during the battle at the Hellmouth.
“Come on Joshua…” she said to no one in particular. “Where’s this trick of yours?”

Joshua could feel the mighty power flowing through his veins, giving him a powerful sensation. He felt the faith. He felt the power. At this moment he did not want to be anywhere else.
“Oh, Ancient one, my King, my Savior. Smite these creatures of the night, in your name, let them know only light!” He cried, standing and raising his hands to the heavens. Suddenly, just as the army arrived at the hotel, the now dark sky seemed to part and a shaft of light spilt from the heavens and encircled the army.
“Thank you, mighty King.” He said as he lowered his hands and turned to the children. “All right, let’s go give them some help!”

As the first vampires charged at the entrance, Amanda raised her blade and swung at the nearest one, but before she could even finish her swing, a large shaft of light enveloped her, blinding her momentarily. She shut her eyes and shook her head. When she opened them again, the light was still there but not nearly as bright. She also saw the last traces of vampire dust vanishing into the light.
“…Wow.” Was all Amanda could say. In one brilliant move, over half the army had been vanquished. The remaining demons looked very confused, and wouldn’t enter the light.
“What will they do now?” Claudia asked beside her, holding a broadsword.
“Not sure…” Amanda said, noticing the light begin to fade. The demons snarled in anger. “Probably come kill us.”
“Ah,” Claudia said.
“Oh crap…” Amanda whispered.
“What?” Claudia asked her as the demons began to charge once again.
“Those, um, Slayer-Hunter things I told you about...” Amanda began, as she raised her blade to take on the first oncoming demon.
“Yeah?” Claudia said, concerned.
“There’s about three of them in that army…” She finished.
“You’re right, oh crap,” Claudia said. “I’m quick, I’ll take them.”
“Wait, Claudia no—” She stopped when Claudia charged past her. “Oh well,” Amanda sighed, “At least she might be able to do it.”
The horde finally ran into at the hotel like a riot breaking out. Amanda raised her blade high in the air and cut the first beast across the belly, causing him to bend over in pain Amanda twisted the blade in her hand and slammed it through the demons spine.
Morgan took on two smaller demons, twirling her rapier expertly, holding them off. Gideon charged in with group one and began to hack up the nearest demons.
Amanda continued to slay one after another, but they were pushing too close. “We can’t hold them here! Fall back!” She yelled. As a group, they backed their way into the hotel as the horde started to push through the door.

Claudia charged to the Slayer-Hunters, which Amanda had renamed, swinging her broadsword hard, crushing the skull of the first. “These aren’t that tough!” She grinned as she made short work of the other. She had caught them by surprise and was taking advantage of the fact. The third however, was not as surprised as its comrades. It slashed its tail across Claudia’s chest, causing her to howl in pain. She quickly pushed aside the pain and continued to trade blows with the creature. The cut of her blade across its head was causing the blade to bend.
The demon was moving almost as fast as she was, but Claudia still had a slight speed advantage. Deciding to try something new, she faked a blow left, distracting the demon while she ploughed her blade into its body, killing it.
Claudia sighed with relief and turned back to the battle already being waged, when three flying beings, looking almost like harpies, descended in front of her.
“Ah, more cannon fodder, eh? Well, bring it on!” She smirked, raising her broadsword once again.
“We know who you are Claudia,” the first said in a high feminine voice.
“Do you not remember us? We helped raise you,” the second said in the same voice.
“We have come to bring you back,” the third said in the same voice. All three of them circled around Claudia, who still had her blade raised.
“Ever think maybe I don’t want to go back?” Claudia responded, trying to decide whom to attack first.
“Nonsense my dear,” Number one said.
“You are simply confused,” Number two said.
“We will help you remember.” Number three said.
“Wait, what are you doing?” Claudia said, starting to feel dizzy. In one desperate move, she charged the first being and swung a deadly strike, which the creature simply dodged. They’re faster than me! She realized in horror.
“Tsk, tsk,” The all said at the same time.
“Hold her please,” the first said to the others. They nodded and quickly grabbed her by both shoulders, holding her into place.
“No! I don’t want to go back! You can’t make me!” She screamed.
“This will not hurt dear, just close your eyes and remember.” It said, putting its hand on her forehead.
“No, I-” her voice was cut off as a rush of images and memories flooded her mind, nearly sending her into shock. She fell forward with her mouth open, drooling a bit.
“Now child, do you remember me?” The first said.
“I…” she whispered. “I remember you!”
The creature smiled. “Excellent dear, and do you remember your purpose.”
Claudia’s muscles tensed. “You… you raised me… but you also…” she whispered slowly, then loudly. “You also gave me to that demon!” She snarled.
“Yes dear, it was your destiny,” The creature said in a gentle voice.
Claudia flexed her arms, now remembering what she had learned from spending her life in the Cult of The First. With one violent scream she tore from the other two creatures’ arms, and turned on the first demon.
“THAT THING RAPED MY SOUL YOU BASTARDS!” She screamed with all she could muster.
“Please calm down chil—”the harpy thing’s voice was cut off as a fist tore through its ribcage, causing the other two to scream in pain at the death of their “sister”. Claudia pulled her hand out of its chest, and turned to the others.
“I’m going to kill you all!” She said, rage and hate in her eyes. The other two tried to engage her, but her fury made her faster than them. In a flash, she broke the second demon’s neck then turned to the final “sister.”
“Please Claudia, we love you!” It pleaded.
Claudia ignored it and charged at the monster. It began to take flight again but Claudia leapt onto its leg and pulled it to the ground while at the same time snapping its leg in two. The demon screamed in pain before Claudia broke its neck.
She stood there amongst the bodies of the harpies, breathing heavily, trying to push her rage down. As more and more memories flooded her already overwhelmed brain, Claudia began to get dizzier, until finally, the storm of images was too much for her and she fell to the ground, unconscious.

The battle of the hotel was now moving through the hallway corridors. Surprisingly, few of the gang members had been killed so far. They must be better trained than I thought. Amanda thought with a smile. Amanda killed another, and another, but they just kept on coming.
“All right, back into the meeting room! We’re activating Plan Beta!” Gideon yelled and the others complied.
“Come with me Amanda!” Morgan said after killing another demon. Amanda turned from her prey and followed Morgan through a passage that led to the sewer meeting area.
The gang was pouring into the meeting room with the demons close behind. “Group three, cover the rest of the kids as they go through, and then go through yourselves, we’ll be right behind you!” Gideon yelled to Ryan, who nodded and started ushering kids through the back passage. “That means you too Cooper!” Gideon yelled at the young black man, fighting bravely with his claymore.
“No way man, my group can go, but I’m staying with you!” Cooper yelled back.
Gideon smiled inwardly, but just said, “Fine, just get them through!”
“Sure thing boss!” Cooper said with a big smile.
Amanda smiled as she fought. That Cooper sure is brave…She thought dreamily. Gideon pointed to a few other kids who were standing by some switches with wires sticking out everywhere.
“Activate first wave of traps!” He shouted.
The kids complied and dozens of long arrows, spears really, shot from various points around the room. Several demons were impaled on them, but though it slowed them down, it did not stop them.
The demons stopped and backed off a bit. Their crowd began to split as a massive demon with a huge battle-axe stepped through the line. Cooper, who was still fighting on one of the flanks, didn’t see the demon until its shadow covered him. He turned quickly as the weak light from the ceiling was blocked. He was startled, and leapt away as the creature swung his mighty axe, barely missing him.
Gideon and his group were getting ready to run through the tunnel along with Morgan and Amanda when Amanda turned and saw Cooper’s peril.
“Cooper!” She screamed, raising her blade and charging back into the fray.
Gideon saw her run back and cursed, while Morgan yelled “Amanda, no! It’s too late!”
Another axe strike came down as Cooper was trying to leap away, dropping his sword. The strike grazed his ribs and he fell to the ground, bleeding. The massive monster raised his axe again for a killing blow. Without hesitating, he swung downward…
…only to be intercepted by Dawn of the West, as Amanda stood over the fallen body of Cooper, pushing the axe back up with her Slayer strength.
“Stupid girl,” the demon said with a rumble in his voice. “I’m supposed to let Armand take care of you!”
“I WILL KILL YOU IF YOU TOUCH HIM AGAIN!” Amanda screamed as the two combatants broke their blade lock.
“Whatever,” the demon shrugged and swung again at Amanda, who began swinging fiercely, dueling over Cooper’s motionless form.
“Amanda!” Morgan shouted as Gideon took her by the shoulders.
“We need to leave Morgan, now,” he said as he pulled her back and closed the grate. Joshua had blessed this gate as well, meaning the demons were now trapped in the hotel unless they went out the front.
“NOOOOO!” Morgan screamed as Gideon pulled her back into the sewers.
“Amanda can handle herself, she’ll be alright.” Gideon assured her. Secretly he wasn’t quite sure, even if Amanda won, it was his responsibility to activate the contingency plan whether she was successful or not.
Back in the meeting area, Amanda continued to battle the demon Commander while the other demons watched. She had managed to bring the battle away from Cooper to prevent him from being hit by a stray blow, but she was still fighting fiercely with the demon.
The Commander raised his axe high above his head again and smashed it into the ground where Amanda had just been. Seizing her opportunity, Amanda leapt on the axe hilt and ran up the massive weapon to land a roundhouse into his face, followed by a slice across his chest. The demon roared in pain, shaking himself, throwing Amanda off.
She hit the ground with a roll, ducking under another axe strike and clipped his knees with a swipe of her sword, causing them to buckle under him. As the demon fell with both knees to the ground Amanda charged again and embedded her blade in his chest then pulled it out, causing massive damage to the creature. Grinning with bloodlust at the wounded creature, Amanda stepped forward and sliced off his head with one strong blow.
The demon leader fell to the ground as the demons began to surround her and Cooper. Amanda checked on him quickly and saw he was still breathing. Lifting him up in one arm with her sword in the other, Amanda looked around the remains of the demon horde, searching for a way to escape.

“Okay, I’ve waited long enough,” Gideon sighed, activating the button that signaled the Contingency plan to go into effect.
“Waited for what?” Morgan said, wiping a tear from her eye at the loss of her Slayer.
Gideon looked at her grimly.

As Amanda was just considering to charge through the line, a massive explosion shook the sewer. And then another, and another. Chunks of concrete, rock, and metal began to fall to the ground and a large crack appeared in the sewer floor.
With the demons distracted for the time being, Amanda sheathed her blade, charged past the distracted demons and through one of the alternate sewer entrances. It was locked tight, but she used her Slayer strength to tear the lock off and charged through, closing it behind her. More and more explosions rocked the sewer and the hotel above it.
This must be Gideon’s contingency plan, she thought as she carried her wounded friend through the maze of sewer pipes at random, trying to escape the explosion as it poured through the sewers. At that moment, she wished she had Claudia’s speed.
Looking behind her briefly, she saw a fireball forming in the distance. She continued through another sewer entrance as the ground still shook and cracks formed in the walls and floor, spilling sewage everywhere, but Amanda wasn’t worried about that, she was more concerned about getting herself and Cooper out of the explosion’s path.
Finally, the fireball was so close to her she could feel the heat on the nape of her neck. She screamed out loud feeling she was about to die, as the ball was now only a few yards away. She leapt to the ground and covered her head, dropping Cooper under her, and prepared to die—Only to have the fireball stop a few feet behind her. She looked up to see Joshua and the children he had taken with him standing with their hands out. She looked behind her and saw the fireball had indeed stopped behind her. It looked as if she was staring at a TV screen, with all the destruction on the other side. She saw the sewer walls collapsing through the tunnel.
“Got here in the nick of time!” Joshua said, smiling.
“Joshua…” Amanda gasped, standing. “Where have you been?”
“Just creating a little light in the darkness here.” He replied.
“That light… that was you?” Amanda asked, putting Cooper over her shoulder again.
“Sure was, something I think I’m going to call ‘False Dawn,’ you like it?” He said.
Amanda chuckled and shook her head. “That’s… that’s great.” She finally managed. “How did you know where we were?”
“We didn’t,” he smiled, lowering his hand. The invisible wall remained. “We were actually lost, trying to figure out how to get back in here. God is very good at putting someone in the right place at the right time.”
Amanda laughed. “Obviously. Do you know your way back out of here?” she asked.
“Err,” he turned back to the four kids. “You guys been remembering the way we came like I asked?”
“Yup,” one of the girls said. “It’s left, left, right, straight, right, left, straight, right, right, right, straight.” She said with a fast voice that neither Joshua nor Amanda could quite get.
“Err, you lead the way dear, and remember; we’re going in reverse now.” Joshua said.
“Right!” She said in a very bubbly voice.
Amanda chuckled at the silliness and followed the kids and Joshua through the sewer tunnels.


Morgan stood weeping softly while Gideon had an army around her, holding her close. “Amanda is a very strong girl, you know it and I know it. She’ll make it.”
Morgan tried to produce a smile, but failed. “I… I understand what you did, I do not blame you.” She said. “You did what you had to do; you could not have allowed them to follow us.” She let out a weak laugh. “I suppose I have trained Amanda better than I thought. She has become very strong willed since I took her under my wing.”
Gideon held her close as she continued to weep. They were in an open field about half a mile from the hotel, which was still burning softly. The other groups were gathered around them, passing out supplies they had taken with them.
“Have you seen Claudia?” Morgan asked weakly.
Gideon grimaced, he was sure the girl had betrayed them and then took off, but that thought wouldn’t comfort Morgan any. “No, I haven’t, she probably just got lost on the way here, I’m sure she’s fine as well.”
“Two Slayers in one day…” she said depressingly. “I am not much of a Watcher, am I?”
“Shhh… you did fine.” Gideon assured her, gently kissing her brow. “If… if they are gone,” he said, regrettably. “Then they have done exactly what you trained them for. They saved lives and they fought evil, I would say you are a success.”
Morgan pulled away from him a bit. “Well, I-Amanda?” She exclaimed as Amanda, still carrying Cooper, appeared over the hill, followed by Joshua and the four kids. Morgan pulled away from Gideon and ran toward Amanda as she laid Cooper down gently onto a cot that had been set out for medical use. A couple guys, former Boy Scouts, who had much experience in First Aid, immediately surrounded the young man, tending to him.
Morgan wrapped her arms around Amanda, who appeared exhausted. ”Oh my darling child, you made it!” She wept as Amanda returned her hug.
“I’m so sorry Morgan,” she said, also breaking into tears. “I’m sorry for making you worry, I just couldn’t leave him!”
“Shhh,” Morgan whispered, kissing her brow as Gideon had done to her.
“Is he going to be all right?” She whispered, looking at the broken Cooper.
One of the medics was talking with Gideon, it didn’t sound good. Joshua, just arriving and listening in on the conversation, turned from him and walked to Cooper, laying a hand on his wound. “Lord, please heal this young man so he may continue to live and work, with your blessing, amen.”
The wound healed immediately. Cooper grunted and sat up. Amanda pulled away from Morgan and walked over to him.
“You idiot! What were thinking, taking them all on by yourself?” She shouted, smacking him gently upside the head. She softened her blow so as not to injure him with her Slayer strength, but it still hurt him.
“Ow, Amanda! What’s the deal?” He said, rubbing his head.
“You are, you big jerk! You almost got us both killed!” She turned away from him and folded her arms, smiling. Cooper continued to rub his head, very confused.
Amanda turned back toward Morgan. “Anyone seen Claudia?” She asked, turning her attention back to her fellow Slayer.
“I’m here,” Came Claudia’s familiar voice. Amanda turned and saw her friend stumbling up the hill with a bent broadsword in her hand. She ran over to her.
“Claudia, what happened?” Amanda asked, giving her a quick hug that she didn’t return.
“My… memories have come back,” she said, dropping her sword to the ground and pulling away from Amanda. “You don’t want to be around someone like me.” She said as she turned away.
“Claudia, what are you talking about?” Amanda asked.
“I’ve done… so many evil things I can never make up for.” Claudia said with her head lowered.
“That’s very true,” Joshua said, walking up to her. “I remember talking to you in the hospital room, a few hours before the demon repossessed you. It was obvious then that you have done such incredible evil you can never take back.”
Claudia began to cry and continued to walk away.
“But who cares?” Joshua continued. “You don’t have to make up for them.” He finished.
Claudia turned to Joshua. “Wh-what are you saying?”
“Everyone can change dear; everyone makes mistakes, some of them small, some of them hideous, but they can always be forgiven. We will accept you no matter what your past was like.” He said.
“Is… is that true?” she asked, rubbing more tears out of her eyes while turning to Amanda and the others.
“No matter where you go, what you do, what happens to you, I will always be your friend, Claudia.” Amanda said, taking a few steps toward the other Slayer.
“I admit I didn’t trust you,” Gideon said, walking toward her. “Still not sure that I do, but after seeing you fight, after seeing the passion in your soul to protect your new friends, I would be proud to fight by your side in the future.”
“I am a Watcher, your Watcher,” Morgan said. “You are my student. You are a wonderful student and I will always be there to guide you.”
Claudia began to sob harder. “We can’t do this you guys, we can’t win.”
“Yes we can.” Morgan said. “Especially now that you have your memories back. You can give us the information we need to destroy Armand once and for all.”
“It wouldn’t make a difference,” she admitted. “He’s more powerful than you think.”
“We’ll be the judge of that,” Morgan said. “I do not mean to rush you, but do you know what he is planning?”
Claudia nodded. “He is planning to use a spell to bring The First out of his stupor. That’s why he wanted the bodies of Slayers a few months ago. Since they defeated The First back at the Hellmouth, Armand thought that using their bodies for his spell would revive him.”
“And how many did he get?” Morgan asked in a concerned voice.
“None.” Claudia said. “He gave up on the plan soon after you guys stole the bodies out from under him. He figured he didn’t have the time to take so many bodies. So he decided on something else.”
“Like what?” Amanda asked.
“He sacrificed dozens of holy men and women. That was why I went to that church a few weeks ago. He wanted the body of Joshua, God’s warrior, to make his spell work,” She said looking at Joshua nervously.
“Heh,” Joshua chuckled. “Looks like that didn’t turn out very well, did it?”
“No, but he found others, the corpse of that friend of yours.” Claudia replied.
“Charlie?” he asked, shocked.
“The one who gave you that sweet car?” Gideon asked.
“Yeah, him. But Charlie’s been dead for…” Joshua began thinking about it.
“You’re right, but the older the corpse, the more power it brings with it. He didn’t even need all those other people; he could have just used Charlie’s.” She finished.
Joshua leaned back and sighed. “How horrible.”
“How long until he casts his spell, Claudia?” Morgan asked.
“There’s a bit of a waiting period between the completion of the spell and when he can activate it, but I’d say tomorrow probably morning most likely,” Claudia replied.
“Tomorrow, eh? That doesn’t give us much time.” Gideon said. “We should move immediately.”
“No, we need to rest. We will go first thing in the morning but we will be useless if we are tired.” Morgan said.
“Wait, we can not possibly take on Armand alone.” Claudia said.
“Why not?” Joshua asked.
“Armand is a, is a very powerful, very ancient being that has wrapped himself into human form. He pretends he’s a necromancer but he is really a creature of ancient legend,” Claudia said, holding out both hands as if to stop them.
“What… sort of creature?” Amanda asked.
Claudia took a deep breath before responding. “Armand is a dragon.”


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