Crown and Key
By Sandra and William Johnson
Chapter One
"I thought California was supposed to always be warm." Lara asked herself as she walked through the chilly streets of Sunnydale. When she had landed at Sunnydale Airport, she attempted to contact Giles at his home, but received no answer. She had then taken a cab to what was left of Sunnydale High School, thinking that maybe he was working late. The dismal remains of the school confirmed to Lara that Mr. Giles was indeed no longer a teacher. After asking around for about half an hour and after a perusal of the local phone book in a conveniently located telephone booth, Lara discovered that he now ran a store called "The Magic Shop". She asked directions and headed out for a walk to the store.
Lara had not considered the time difference, though. As she walked to the shop, night had fallen. She wasn't worried, though. After all, she was Lara Croft, English Lady and Tomb Raider. She often walked the streets of London alone at night and handled any trouble that came her way. This was a sleepy little town in Southern California, not even a suburb. What was the worst that could happen?
"Hey there, girlie, are you lost?" A male voice with a heavy English accent asked behind her. Lara turned to face him. "No, but I am new in town. I can guess you are, too." The man was tall with slicked back bleached blond hair. He wore a beaten up leather trench coat, white T shirt, and a pair of black jeans. Lara smiled slightly, thinking, “This guy looks like Billy Idol”
"I've been around." He casually replied. "Don't you know it isn't safe for a pretty thing like yourself to be walking the streets at night?"
A slow smile spread across Lara's face. "I think I can take care of myself." She said. Unconsciously, her hands went to the hilt of the twin pistols she carried in holsters around her hips, which were currently hidden by the Gray Duster she wore over her tight fitting clothes. The man shrugged, his shoulders causing the supple leather of his jacket to ripple over his skin.
"Suit yourself, dear. But if you come across anything that those two metal friends you're sporting" he lightly rested his hands on the guns at her hips and smiled oily, " can't handle, don't hesitate to call for help. The name's Spike."
Lara’s hands moved to quickly remove Spike’s hands from her hips. "Don't worry. I can practically guarantee I won't be screaming your name any time soon." Lara smiled sweetly, then turned away from the man and headed further down the street. "Figures, the first guy I meet in America has to be another smooth talking Brit." She said to herself as she spotted the sign that read "The Magic Shop". Lara approached it swiftly.
Suddenly, Lara found herself face down in the pavement, with an extremely heavy weight across her shoulders. She pushed herself to her feet, sending the object crashing into a pile of trashcans. Turning to face it, Lara noticed that it was a man. He slowly rose to his feet and smiled. His face was ringed with bumps across his forehead and he had two sharp fangs jutting from his mouth.
"Like to play dress up here in the States?" Lara asked. The man laughed. "You wish." he retorted as he made a lunge for her. Lara darted right, avoiding his grasp and crashed into another person who resembled her first attacker.
"Is this some kind of gang, or do you guys have a Klingon fetish?" She asked as they both made a dive for her. The first man growled and grabbed her by the hair. Pulling her close, he exposed the flesh of her neck. Lara brought her knee up into his groin, and the man doubled in pain. Running back, Lara pulled her pistols. "Stay back!" She called.
"Or what?" Her second assailant taunted. He started towards her. Lara squeezed the trigger and fired. The bullets slammed into the man’s body, sending him sprawling. To Lara’s amazement, the man slowly regained his feet.
"You can't kill something that's all ready dead." The man taunted. That's when Lara knew Mr. Giles had been right; there were vampires in America, and she was face to face with two of them.
"Looking for a date?" A female voice asked to Lara's right. She turned her head and saw what appeared to be the typical California blond airhead standing there. "I mean, it really isn't fair to all the other girls, with both you guys fighting over this nice lady here." She kept walking.
"Get back! You don't know what they are!" Lara told her. The blond kept coming closer. "How about you dance with me?" She asked the vampire who was standing in front of Lara. Without another word, the blond let fly a high kick that caught him under his jaw. Lara heard his teeth click together as the man flew back several feet. The other vampire had regained some of his strength and came at her from behind.
"I'm sorry, but my dance card is kind of full." The blond said as she flipped him easily over her shoulder. Reaching into the bag that was idly slung over her shoulder, the blond pulled out two long pointy sticks. "Catch!" she called to Lara as she tossed one in her direction. Lara quickly holstered her pistols and caught it, just as the blond plunged the other stick into the heart of the fallen vampire. Following her lead, Lara crossed to the apparently unconscious one. She watched as the vampire the blond had slain turned to dust at her feet.
The man in front of her jumped to his feet, taking Lara by surprise. With a slow smile spreading easily across her face, Lara held up the pointy end of her stake. Too late, the vampire realized that he had misjudged her distraction and impaled himself upon her stake, right through his heart. He vanished in a flash of dirt.
Lara turned to the blond with a smile of appreciation, idly brushing dust from her clothes. "Was that what I thought it was?"
"Depends on what you were thinking." The blond quipped as she gathered her things together in haste.
"I thought it was a vampire." Lara replied, an edge creeping into her voice.
"Then you thought right." The blond replied as she started to head off.
"Are you The Chosen One?" Lara called after her. The blond stopped in her tracks and slowly turned around. "What makes you think that?"
"You are." Lara said with conviction. "Maybe you can help me. I'm looking for an old friend."
"Sorry, but if you're friend is undead, I probably killed him." She said as she started off again.
"No, it's not that." Lara jogged after her, insulted that she had to chase after a girl a few years younger than she who had probably just saved her life. "He was my History tutor when I was a child. His name is Rupert Giles."
The blond froze and whirled around. "You know Giles?"
"I take it so do you" Lara paused. "Do you know where I can find him?"
"Can I trust you?"
"Can I trust you?" Lara asked. The blond let out a sigh. "I suppose you've got me there." Lara shrugged and extended her hand for an introduction. "Lara Croft; Tomb Raider."
The blond took her hand and shook it firmly. "Buffy Summers," she replied, "Vampire Slayer."
"Interesting title; ‘Vampire Slayer’." Lara commented as Buffy led her around to the back of the Magic Shop and down the street towards Giles’ home.
"No more interesting than `Tomb Raider'." Buffy replied as she and Lara stepped off the curb and headed down the street.
“Isn’t that his shop?” Lara inquired.
Buffy shrugged, “Well, what’s left of it anyhow”
“What happened?”
Buffy smiled, “Just your usual, every day apocalypse. You coming?”
Lara shook her head, her own world saving experiences flashing through her mind, and followed the young woman down the street to a rather unassuming house.
"Everyone is inside." Buffy said. "If you don't really know Giles, we'll find out soon enough."
"You're not worried about that?" Lara asked.
Buffy smiled grimly. "I have the most powerful witch on Earth inside along with a former Watcher and a complete arsenal. I highly doubt you'll be getting out alive if you're not who you say you are."
"Good point." Lara said as she attempted to digest the information Buffy had just described. "I'm still getting used to the fact that there are vampires. Why wouldn't there be witches as well?"
As she pushed open the door, Lara saw him. Seated at the counter was Giles, exactly how she remembered.
"Was everything okay Buffy?" He asked, not looking up from the thick book he was reading.
"Yeah." She replied as she motioned towards Lara. "But the innocent outside seems to be looking for you."
Giles wearily lifted his head and turned to face them. He dropped the book to the floor with a loud clatter, recognition lighting his eyes. "Lady Croft!" he nearly whispered.
Buffy looked curiously at Lara, thinking, “Lady Croft???”
"Hello, Mr. Giles." She replied. Giles crossed the distance between them and enveloped her in a bear hug. "Lara Croft, I haven't seen you in nearly ten years. What are you doing in the States? Why didn't you call and let me know you were coming?"
Lara held up her hands, "Let's slow down a minute, okay?" She took a deep breath. "I would have called, but what brings me here is not something you can easily discuss over a telephone. As to what that may be, well, that’s the Big Mystery. I received this map that my father sent me and since the note attached to it hinted at a sense of urgency, I followed it without my normal amount of preparation. What I recovered, was an ancient crown. I’m pretty sure it’s magical in origin. Seems that since the debacle with The Triangle, I’ve gained a sense about these things. But, even though it’s former owner is quite famous, neither Bryce, nor I could find anything on it in any of my books in my library. Not even in the writings of Evelyn O’Connell, Doctor Henry Jones Sr., Doctor Henry Jones Jr., or even in the writings of Dr. Daniel Jackson. All I found was nothing.”
Giles looked at his former student, concern on his face, as well as curiosity. Not only about what brought Lara to America, but also about this Triangle she referred to. However, it was late, and Lara looked exhausted.
"Lara, you look exhausted. How about we discuss this in the morning, after you’ve gotten some sleep?" Giles replied. "I'll make you a reservation at "
"Don't bother." Buffy interrupted. "Lara, why don't you stay with me? Everyone else does. It's really no imposition for a friend of Giles."
Lara looked a little taken aback at the sudden change in Buffy's tone from possible rival to possible friend. "Do you have the room?" Buffy smiled. "As long as you don’t mind sleeping on the couch, I do."
Lara smiled back, “Sure, why not. Besides, this way I can find out more of this Slayer business.”
“And you can tell me what the hell a Tomb Raider is” Buffy retorted.
Giles sighed. “I only hope Sunnydale can survive the blooming friendship of Lara Croft and Buffy Summers.” He said quietly. The women laughed together for the first time as Giles guided Lara by the arm into the living room.
“I’m just going to call Xander and let him know I’m going to be later than I thought. He’s on Dawn duty tonight.” Buffy said as she disappeared into the kitchen.
“Dawn duty?” Lara asked.
“Her younger sister.” Giles replied. “Now, tell me. How was your first impression of Sunnydale?”
Lara smiled slyly. “It was actually rather funny. Before your slayer rescued me from those disgusting vampires, I had been offered a rather cocky escort by a quite attractive Brit. Then again, I always did have a thing for Billy Idol.”
“Billy Idol?” Giles asked, his usually passive face drawing in concern. “Was he by chance, tall, with platinum blond hair and wearing a very old leather jacket?”
Lara’s jaw dropped. “Yes, he called himself Spike.” She paused, considering Giles expression. “How did you know?”
“I guessed he was going to return sooner or later.” Giles muttered. “Lara, don’t mention that part of your evening to anyone else. This Spike is quite dangerous. He disappeared for a while, but apparently now he’s back. I’d like to deal with him on my own, without getting Buffy and the others involved.”
“Mr. Giles, you don’t need to explain anything to me. After how well you treated my father and encouraged him after my mother passed away, I feel as if I owe you one, to coin one of your American sayings. I promise not to mention it.”
Giles breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you Lady Croft. And you are old enough now to call me Rupert. Mr. Giles makes me feel like I’m my father’s age.”
Lara laughed merrily at that remark. “On one condition,” she smiled. “You must drop this ‘Lady’ business and call me Lara.”
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