1.) The Hunted: Prologue
by Mooncalf
Disclaimer: Buffy The Vampire Slayer and related characters are owned by Joss Whedon, WB and Mutant Enemy. I can only take credit for the new main characters I have created and various other vampire minions which may wander into my stories. I created them, so they are mine. Don't sue as this is just pure fanfic.

*****Prologue*****

SUNNYDALE – MARCH 1999

Buffy, Giles, Willow, Oz, Xander, Cordelia and Wesley sat in the library. Each one of them engrossed in a book, apart from Willow who sat at a computer. They were looking for ways to stop the Mayors Ascension. Well, everyone except Cordelia…she was looking for ways to get closer to Wesley. Buffy gave a deep sigh and closed her book.

‘Giving up?’ Willow whispered.

‘Taking a break.’ She whispered back, and then she spoke in her normal voice adding. ‘This is pointless!’ Giles and Wesley both looked up; Giles with an expression of blank bewilderment, and Wesley with a slightly shocked and devastated look. ‘I mean, we can’t look for ways to kill him…he’s immortal.’

Wesley opened and closed hiw mouth a few times, and made a little squeak of disgust, but before he could utter a word Giles said. ‘We look for ways to make him mortal, and then we kill him.’

‘But Giles, what if there isn’t a way to do it? What then?’ Buffy looked as though she had given up; sighing again she added. ‘If he managed to get Faith, what chance do I have?’ Willow went to her side immediately and she gave her a comforting hug, whilst giving Giles meaningful "say something!" looks. Then she decided that a quick Willowesque pep-talk was a better idea.

‘You’re a stronger slayer than Faith ever was, and you’re a better person. She only went off the rails cos she killed that guy…but, she was a little crazy to start with…it’ll never happen to you. We’re going to stop the Mayor, then we’re going to get her back.’ She released Buffy from the hug and nodded enthusiastically.

‘Really?’ Buffy sniffed, she felt like crying. The last few weeks had taken their toll on her, and her recent ‘break’ from Angel wasn’t going as well as she’d hoped.

‘Yes, really. So, what do you say? Kick some immortal butt huh?’ Willow smiled reassuringly, and gave obvious signals to Xander and Cordelia for agreement. Taking their cue they nodded just as enthusiastically and plastered on fake smiles. Buffy smiled back and wiped her eyes.

‘Yeah.’ She said, sounding a little more convinced that they’d win. After all, they always did.

‘There is something we haven’t thought of…’ Giles began as he stood up and headed into his office. Wesley looked concerned and followed him. There was a moment of silence as the group exchanged puzzled looks followed by the sound of a scuffle in the office. Giles and Wesley could be heard inside, shouting at each other.

‘You know you’re forbidden to open it unless it’s an emergency!’ Wesley yelled.

‘And you don’t call this an emergency!’ Giles shouted back, he sounded furious.

‘Giles, if you open that book I’ll tell the council!’

‘Book?’ Xander whispered to the group. ‘All that’s about a book?’ He raised his eyebrows and looked back at the office. The argument was still raging.

‘I cannot believe you just ignored me and opened it!’

‘Of course…I knew this would have the answers!’ Came the voice of Giles, in keen-watcher mode.

‘The answers?’ Wesley sounded quietly curious. Inside the office he leaned over Giles’ shoulder to read the book, Giles shrugged him away.

‘Yes, yes…the answers to all the questions…’ he said impatiently. He closed the book quickly and headed for his door, Wesley jumped in front of him before he reached it.

‘I demand that you tell me these questions…and the answers to them!’

‘Wesley, I would like to get out of my office if you don’t mind.’

‘No Giles, I’m not moving until you tell me what’s in that book. I’ve let you interfere far too much with this as it is.’

‘Wesley…’

‘Giles, give me the book.’

‘Wesley!’

‘You are no longer a member of the Watcher’s council, you have no authority here, now give the book to me!’

Outside the gang heard the sound of scuffling again followed by the sound of someone being punched. The door opened and Giles strolled out holding the book in his left hand and flexing his right…it hurt from the punch. Inside the office Wesley was on the floor. He was scrambling to his feet, clutching his cheek. He looked shocked and utterly humiliated. Cordelia ran to his side while the others looked away, trying not to laugh.

‘What did you hit him for Giles?’ Cordelia squealed. Giles ignored her and placed the book open on the table. Everyone gathered around him as he read.

‘You cannot show that to a slayer…or anyone else…you, you shouldn’t even be reading it!’ Wesley yelled as he ran over to the group, still clutching his cheek, Cordelia following him like a little puppy dog.

‘What is it Giles?’ Willow asked, looking at the book. It was like nothing she’d ever seen. The pages were a brilliant white and the book was bound in what looked like soft leather, the same bright white of the pages. The writing was perfectly engraved in gold on the pages. All the text was written in Latin, and the page edges were decorated with flowers, birds and butterflies.

‘The White Chronicle’s.’ He said gravely as he continued to read.


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