~ Public park, Seattle, Washington – 50 years ago ~
Two teenagers sit on a blanket under the glow of the sunset. They kiss each other passionately as they claw at each others clothes. After a moment the girl pulls back. She looks about sixteen with green eyes and short brown hair that falls naturally around her long face. She smiles an adorable half smile at the boy.
“I want you to say It.” she said coyly
The boy rolls his eyes.
“Oh come one Meredith . . .” he starts
The girl, Meredith, pulls away from him and begins to button up her blouse.
“No more until you say it.” she said
The boy smirked. Meredith always managed to get what she wanted.
“Alright, I love you.” he said
Meredith smiled broadly and narrowed her eyes.
“Do you want me?” she asked
“I want you.” the boy replied
“Do you need me?”
“I need you.”
Meredith crawled back a few paces still smiling at the boy.
“That’s all I needed to hear.”
She hunched over. Suddenly her body began to grow and distort her clothes beginning to rip from the strain. The boy screamed in as Meredith began to sprout six extra legs and vicious claws. The demon stared hungrily at the boy as he tried to scramble. This wasn’t that successful since the demon shot out a web from its thorax binding his legs and dropping him to the ground. He clawed at the ground wildly as the demon dragged him towards her.
Slowly the demon lifted the boy towards her. With one swift motion she bit off his head. The decapitated corpse dropped to the ground lifeless as the demon slowly morphed back into Meredith. She took the boys shirt and covered her naked form then rummaged through his pockets for his car keys.
“Another fifty years.” She said as she walked back to the car.
~ The library of Raleighfield high, Raleighfield California – present day ~
The library was full of activity and, surprisingly enough, none of it involved reading. In the corner Rebecca worked with Belle on her punches. She held up a couple of padded gloves while the slayer punched them in a coordinated fashion. While that was going Heidi was with Nigel who was attempting to help her channel her ability. Heidi sat cross legged on top of one of the tables with her arms folded while Nigel pulled out a brand new, unwrapped, pack of playing cards from his bag.
“Now Heidi this is a simple test to see how developed you’re abilities are.” He explained
Heidi looked at the unopened pack curiously.
“Queen of hearts, ten of spades, jack of clubs, five of hearts, three of diamonds, ace of spades, seven of clubs, king of diamonds, five of hearts, eight of clubs.” She said softly
Nigel didn’t reply. He opened the pack and checked the deck. He then looked up at Heidi in surprise. The young seer had just predicted the first ten cards on the top of the deck before he even opened the package.
“Alright then,” Nigel said a little put out, “I think that’s a fair assessment. Perhaps we should move to something more advance.”
Just then Nolan walked into the library.
“Morning team,” he said proudly, “are we all ready to fight evil.”
Nobody responded. Nolan frowned then walked over to Heidi and Nigel. When Heidi saw Nolan her eyes lit up and a small smile crossed her face.
“What are we doing here library guy?” he asked
“Please don’t call me that,” Nigel replied irritated, “and, if you must know, I’m testing Miss. Marsh to see how I can best aid her.”
Nolan looked over to Heidi, who looked away shyly when he did, he noticed the playing cards on the table. Nolan gave Nigel a disappointed look.
“And your doing it with cards,” Nolan replied
Nigel looked at the boy annoyed.
“This is a standard of testing for clairvoyant ability.”
Nolan sighed as he rummaged through his bag.
“Nigel, Nigel, Nigel some day you’re going have to learn how to deal with super people.”
Nolan pulled out his history homework and held it in front of Heidi.
“What am I going to get?” he asked
Like the cards Heidi looked at the homework curiously.
“D minus . . .” she replied
“See, the girl’s psychic, I don’t know why you’re bothering with the other stuff.”
“ . . . T-that’s gonna drop to an F when they find out you cheated.”
Nolan looked at Heidi nervously. He also noticed the smirk on Nigel’s face.
“She is so lying.” Nolan snapped, pointing an accusing finger after he slammed down his homework.
Nigel picked up the paper and examined it.
“I’m afraid she’s not.” Nigel replied
“Hey I worked really hard on that!”
“‘The American civil war by Belle Galloway’.” Nigel quoted
“Yeah, well, I was tired I could have forgotten my name.”
“This has been photocopied.”
“I can explain that, see . . . hey! I don’t need to stand here and listen to your accusations!”
With that Nolan turned on his heal and stormed out of the room. Heidi giggled to herself as she watched him leave. Rebecca and Belle joined Nigel while watching Nolan leave curiously.
“What was that about?” Rebecca asked
“Young Mr. Galloway’s deceits we’re brought to the surface.”
Belle picked up the homework and studied it.
“That little rat!” she snapped angrily, “I’m gonna kill him.”
With that belle rushed out after her brother. Rebecca smirked.
“How goes Belles fighting training?” Nigel asked
“Good. She’s very attentive, which makes my job a whole lot easier.”
“Shall I take her out on patrol tonight or shall you?”
Rebecca shrugged as she started to pack up the training equipment.
“You can do it if you want.” She replied
Nolan thought about this.
“Perhaps we should alternate nights until she feels confident enough to venture out on her own.”
“Sounds fair.”
“Are you sure Alex won’t mind?”
Rebecca smiled at the watcher.
“He’ll be fine. Vampires Alex can deal with and besides I’m not going to be doing the fighting.”
“I have to tell you Meredith that you’re transcripts are excellent.” Principal Crawford said as he read through the papers.
Meredith sat calmly in the principal’s office while Principal Crawford went through her records. She smiled at him with the adorable half smile she perfected.
“I try to work as hard as can,” Meredith replied.
“Good to hear,” Principal Crawford replied, “I’ll think you’ll fit in well at Raleighfield high.”
The principal extended he hand. Meredith stood and shook it. Principal felt a small stabbing sensation. He pulled back his hand and rubbed it.
“I am so sorry,” Meredith said, “I think I need trim my nails.”
“You might want to look into that.” Principal Crawford replied
Meredith turned and headed for the door. Once outside the office Meredith looked down at her hand. A small barb retracted back under her skin.
“Not the one.” she said to herself quietly
Nigel sat quietly in the library alone. Around him sat dozens of books and in front of him sat the drawing Heidi did of what Rebecca called ‘The Signum’. So far nothing added up. He could find brief references to a device matching the Signums decription but nothing of any detail. He was about to check another reference when he was dazzled by a brilliant white light. A projection of the Goddess Willow stood furiously before him. Nigel quickly scrambled to his feet.
“Why did you try and find me?” she snapped, “I told the Council to never look for me again!”
“I’m aware of that goddess but this is a matter of urgency.” Nigel replied
Willow folded her arms waiting for the explanation.
“It’s about the Divine One,” Nigel explained hastily, “There is a law firm, possibly linked to Wolfram and Hart. They recently triggered a countermeasure implanted in Rebecca. It’s some kind of pathogen that is going to kill her if we don’t find a solution.”
For a long moment Goddess Willow glared silently at the Watcher.
“So you’re telling me the Divine One’s in trouble?” she asked
“Yes. She needs your help.” Nigel insisted
“Like the other ten times the council told me the Divine One’s in trouble.”
Nigel hesitated. He was hoping this piece of information wasn’t going to come up.
“I understand how you feel but this is . . .”
“You have no idea how I feel Watcher! Using me as bate to try and lure Rebecca to your cause even after defeating the Trinity and just wanted to spend time with her new husband? That is beyond low and the main reason my coven turned away from the council.”
“This situation is different I can assure you . . .”
Willow raised her hand.
“Save it watcher!” she exclaimed, “there is only so many times you can cry wolf before people stop listening.”
Willow walked slowly and deliberately up to Nigel.
“You want Rebecca to work for you? Talk to her yourself and if you try to contact me again I will rain hellfire on you like you’ve never seen before!”
Willow disappeared leaving Nigel in shock.
While this was going on Rebecca was in a session with one of the students.
“She is, like, so smart and funny and I really like her.” the young boy said
Rebecca sat calmly in her seat and looked at the boy supportively.
“Did you try talking to her first before you did it?” she asked
The boy looked around guiltily.
“Brad?” Rebecca prompted
“You don’t understand. She more popular then me.”
“So you though pantsing yourself in front of her was a better idea?”
“I wanted to do something different,” brad replied, “to get her attention.”
“But there’s the right kind of attention and the wrong kind of attention. Which do you think you were?”
Again brad looked around with a guilty expression.
“The wrong kind.” He replied
Rebecca nodded. She noticed the clock on the wall.
“Sorry Brad our hour’s up.” she said sympathetically
Brad colleted his things and Rebecca guided him out of her office. Waiting outside was Nigel. This caught Rebecca by surprise.
“Oh hi.” She said
Nigel didn’t reply. He simply looked at her apologetically.
“What’s wrong?” Rebecca asked worried
“I just got contacted by Willow.” Nigel replied
“So how did it go?”
“Uh . . . not to good I’m afraid.”
“What do you mean?”
Nigel looked around the hallway. Rebecca narrowed her eyes in suspicion.
“Nigel talk to me.”
“She didn’t believe me.”
Nigel could feel the anger growing in the Divine One.
“Why wouldn’t Willow, my aunt’s best friend, believe you when the council told her about the virus?”
Nigel took a deep breath and readied himself for the worst.
“I have not been entirely forthcoming about the council’s efforts to re-recruit you. During the two year period certain fabricated stories were passed on to the goddess claiming you were in danger. This was all done in the effort to use her to convince you.”
“You son of a bitch!” Rebecca growled
“I am truly sorry Rebecca.”
“That’s not going to help me,” Rebecca replied, “what the hell am I supposed to do now?”
“I’ve spoken to the council and they agreed . . .”
“I don’t want the councils help Nigel!” Rebecca snapped, “I need Willow. I don’t care how you do it get her here!”
“I’m afraid I can’t do that. After she contacted me Willows coven shifted to a different location making her impossible to find.”
Rebecca gripped her teeth tightly and clench her fists. Nigel began to fear for his life.
“If there’s anything I can do . . .”
“Yeah there is,” Rebecca yelled, “get the hell out of my face before I start doing damage!”
With that Rebecca turned and stormed into her office. She slammed the door behind her leaving Nigel alone with his guilt.
Nolan colleted the books for his next class he closed his locker and began to walk absentmindedly. While distracted he walked straight into Meredith spilling both her books and his onto the floor. Quickly he dropped to the ground.
“Oh my god I am so sorry,” he said, “I didn’t mean to . . .”
Nolan looked up and saw the most amazing pair of green eyes he had ever seen in his life. She was about the same height as Nolan and was wearing a medium length black skirt with matching jacket and a red t-shirt. She had long back hair with was tied up into a bun and held in place by two red chopsticks. The girl smiled back at him sweetly. Nolan smiled back awkwardly as he gathered up her books.
“Thanks,” She replied adorably, “This school is so big I think I got turned around.”
“I know what you mean,” Nolan replied, “On my first day I got so lost that I thought the girls bathroom was art.”
Meredith laughed.
“You’re sweet.” She replied
“Thanks, wow,” Nolan replied in surprise, “usually when I talk to girls I get ‘you’re creepy’ or ‘Stop staring at my boob’s perv’.”
It was then he realized that this probably wasn’t the best thing to say to the new girl but, luckily, she laughed again. Meredith stuck out her hand.
“I’m Meredith.” she said
“Nolan,” Nolan replied and shook her hand.
Like Principal Crawford Nolan felt a small stab in his arm. Nolan jerked his hand back and looked at Meredith curiously.
“That’s some hand shake you got there.”
Meredith looked at Nolan in a playful guiltiness.
“Sorry about that.” she replied
“No big. So where are you heading to next?”
“I think I got science first.”
“Well you’re in luck ‘cause that’s what I have,” Nolan replied excitedly, “C’mon I’ll take you Mr. Baxter get’s annoyed if your late.”
Nolan turned happily and started to wander down the hall. He had a good feeling about Meredith and the possibility of them being a couple. Meredith looked down at her hand and the familiar ritual of the small barb disappearing under her skin occurred. Meredith smiled to herself evilly.
“perfect.” She said
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