103: The Seal – Act 1
~ Heatherview Graveyard, Raleighfield California – The previous evening ~
The bulldozer growled loudly. Around it the workers dug into the earth vigorously.
“Man I hate these late nights!” one of them yelled, “If brad asks me to work on Monday I’m gonna tell him to shove it!”
“Yeah, sure you are.” Another replied
The first worker was about to reply until his shovel hit something hard. Curious he stopped what he was doing and bent down. Brushing away the loose soil he found something.
“Whoa guys,” he exclaimed, “come here.”
The other workers stopped and huddled around the strange object. It was made of stone and shaped in a semi circle. Its entire surface was covered with strange symbols that none of them could recognised. The only this that looked remotely familiar was the carving in the centre that was in the shape of a wolf.
“What the hell is it?” one of them asked
“I don’t know,” the first replied, “I say we take it to the college let them worry about it.”
~ The coven of the Goddess Willow, Central Europe – 3 day ago ~
Willow stood in the main chamber of the coven main building. She brushed her white hair away from her face as she consulted some of the reports of slayer activity that was occurring around the world. Willow doubled her efforts because she was still seething from the council’s recent attempt to use her to re-recruit the Divine One by feeding her a fake story about a virus that Wolfram and Hart implanted in her. A moment later there was a bright flash of light and high priestess Cassandra stood a few meters away from Willow.
This was nothing out of the ordinary for this coven so willow wasn’t startled when it happened she simply put down the reports and gazed casually over to Cassandra.
“Goddess,” Cassandra said with urgency, “I have something of immense importance to report.”
“What is it?” Willow asked
“We have located a Slayer.”
This got Willows attention. She moved away from the table and stood across from the high priestess.
“Are you sure?” she asked
“Absolutely positive.”
“Where did you find her?”
“Actually she came to us,” Cassandra replied, “She was dealing with a demon issue and required our assistance.”
From her pocket Cassandra handed Willow some images captured from the security cameras placed in the main chamber. Willow took them and studied them closely. Seeing the image of the red head nearly made her fall over in shock.
“She was going by the name . . .”
“ . . . Nighthawk.” Willow interrupted
“Yes,” Cassandra replied, “How did you know?”
“I know this slayer very well. Her real name is Penny Whitfield.”
Just then another witch burst into the room. She rushed up to Willow in a panic.
“Goddess,” she said out of breath, “We just sensed a team leaving the Council of Watchers. We think it’s a retrieval team.”
Willow looked from the exhausted witch to the photos she held in her hand.
“Oh god!” she exclaimed, “I don’t think we’re the only one’s who know she’s alive.”
“Shall I get some of the girls?” the witch asked
“No,” Willow replied, “I’m gonna handle this personally. Do we know where Angel is?”
“Last time he checked in with us he said that he was on his way to Raleighfield.”
“I’ll meet him there then,” Willow replied urgently, “Keep me up to date. You know how important it is we get to Penny before they do. God knows what Rodger has in mind if he gets his hands on her.”
Rebecca sat at the kitchen table quietly. She was buttering her toast when Alex walked in happily.
“Good morning.” Alex chirped
Rebecca looked up at him curiously.
“You’re in a good mood.” She said
Alex shrugged.
“Why wouldn’t I be?” Alex replied, “I’m going to be working on free flowing neutrinos with my class today it’s going to be a hoot!”
“That great . . . very sciencey.”
“That’s kinda what I was going for.”
Rebecca smirked. This is the happiest she had seen her husband in the last few weeks which filled her with relief. Rebecca looked down at her watch
“Are you ready? We have to go soon.” she asked
“Oh, right, I forgot to tell you,” Alex said, “I have an early faculty meeting. Is it alright if you make your way to school?”
Rebecca looked at her husband curiously.
“Alright,” Rebecca replied hesitantly, “Is it something serious?”
“Nah this happens every month.”
Rebecca nodded. She put on her work jacket and picked up her purse. Kissing Alex goodbye she opened a portal in the middle of the lounge room. Alex watched her leave with a big smile on her face. When the portal closed that smile dropped quickly. For a long moment he sat quietly on his own that was until he heard the door to the spare room open. From the hallway Angel walked into the lounge room and looked at Alex seriously.
“You didn’t tell her I was here.” He said
“No.” Alex replied
Angel leaned against the wall and rubbed his forehead stressfully.
“Alex I thought the plan was . . .”
“We’re not going to get a straight answer out of her Angel,” Alex replied, “Believe me I tried.”
“Who are we going to talk to then?”
“I know someone.” Alex replied getting his coat.
“The remainder of Wolfram and Hart’s resources have been transferred to you.” Mr. White explained as Darrel looked over the manifest
“Fantastic,” Darrel replied, “I’ll make sure we’ll put this to good use.”
“Any news on locating the Signum?”
“Just got word a few minutes ago that a construction crew working on the Heatherview Graveyard extension uncovered the Wolf Seal last night.”
“Where is it now?”
“It’s just been delivered to the archaeology department of Raleighfield University.”
“Aren’t you concerned about the Divine One discovering its location?”
Darrel smiled.
“Don’t worry I got all my bases covered.”
Heidi sat quietly on one of the tables in the library. She had her eyes closed and was breathing rhythmically in and out in a calming fashion. Near her Nigel sat and watched the young seer closely.
“I want you to focus inward Heidi,” he said in an even controlled tone, “To where the voices are talking. Do you see where that is in your mind?”
Heidi nodded slowly.
“Good, now, I want you to focus on filtering out the sound.”
Heidi began to focus. But the more she tried to block out the sound the stronger it fought back. Nigel noticed that her breathing began to quicken in a panicked fashion. She began to shake subtly. Sensing the urgency the watcher rushed over.
“Heidi stop.” He said
Heidi snapped her eyes open and breathed in heavily.
“What happened?” Nigel asked
Heidi looked up at him sadly
“T-they wouldn’t let me.” She replied, “The voices”
Nigel rubbed the back of his neck in frustration. This is the fifth exercise has tried to help Heidi with her power but none of them seem to work. There must be something he’s overlooking.
“Wait here for a moment,” Nigel said, “there are some references in the back I haven’t consulted yet.”
Heidi nodded and Nigel left the room. She sat there unhappily as Angel and Alex entered the library. Heidi looked up at them curiously.
“Why are we at Rebecca’s school?” Angel asked
“The librarian’s a Watcher,” Alex replied
Angel shot Alex a concerned look but Alex waved it off.
“He’s not Rebecca’s,” Alex replied “There was a slayer activated here recently. He’s her watcher.”
“Wait, A slayer was activated?”
“It’s a long story.”
Alex noticed Heidi staring at the both of them. They both wandered over to her.
“Hi,” Alex asked as calmly as he could, “Is Nigel here?”
Heidi didn’t reply. She stared at the both of them with intense curiosity.
“You okay?” Angel asked
“Don’t be mad,” Heidi replied softly
Angel and Alex looked at the small girl strangely.
“Do be mad at what?”
“N-not her fault. Don’t be mad.”
“What are you talking about?” Alex asked
“T-The lawyers did it,” Heidi continued, “M-made her sick. It’s not her fault.”
Suddenly this strange girl began to make a creepy kind of sense. Alex knelt down to match Heidi’s eye line.
“You’re talking about Rebecca aren’t you?”
“S-she doesn’t want to hurt you.” Heidi continued, nervous by Alex’s proximity, “Y-you or the vampire.”
Slowly she looked up to Angel who was looking at her with interest. Just then Nigel returned from his office. He saw the two men and stopped.
“Alex?” he asked
Alex stood up and looked at the watcher seriously.
“We need to talk.” He said.
Slowly Nigel placed his books on the table.
“That will be all for today Heidi I need to speak to these gentlemen alone.”
Heidi quickly jumped off the table and out the door. Nigel leaned against another table and folded his arms. He regarded Angel with extreme curiosity.
“You must be Angel,” He stated, “Giles told us a lot about you before he died.”
“I’m touched,” Angel replied blandly
“We want to know what’s going on with Rebecca.” Alex asked
“Then I suggest you talk to her,” Nigel replied, “I’m not in the habit of speaking behind people’s backs.”
“Is she sick?” Angel asked
Nigel looked at the vampire curiously.
“How did you know that?” he inquired
“That girl who just left told us. She also said the lawyers did it.”
Nigel dropped his head. Heidi was doing what she thought was right Nigel reminded himself.
“We are talking about Wolfram and Hart aren’t we? Because I can’t think of any other law firm that’s in the habit of infecting people.”
“Alright I’ll tell you,” Nigel replied, “But for the record I’m uncomfortable about the position you two have put me in.”
In the archaeology department of Raleighfield U Dr.’s Patterson and Maynard looked over the Wolf Seal with extreme interest.
“This thing is absolutely incredible,” Dr. Patterson exclaimed, “I’ve counted at least six or seven different languages inscribed on this tablet.”
“Its make and construction suggest that it’s part of a bigger object.” Dr. Maynard replied looked at the markings closely, “any idea what’s it’s for?”
“A cursory examination suggests it’s a cover of some kind like a door or a seal.”
Dr. Maynard walked up close to the Wolf Seal. He stared at the center carving with interest.
“Look at this.” He said gesturing to the image.
“It almost looks like some kind of dog.”
Dr. Patterson walked up and placed his hand on the tablet. A surprised curious expression cross his face.
“Oh my word,” he exclaimed
“What?” Dr. Patterson asked
“The table is emitting some kind of energy.”
Dr. Patterson joined his colleague in touching the stone. He felt the power of the wolf seal coarse up his arm.
The turned Dr. Patterson.
“This is going to make us famous.” He said smugly
Rebecca walked calmly down the hall. She entered the library brandishing a book.
“Hey Nigel have you got the next volume? I need it . . . for . . .”
Rebecca stopped. Nigel sat quietly with an extremely guilty look on his face. Next to him sat Angel and Alex.
“Alex? I thought you had a meeting and why is Angel here?” she asked curiously
“We know Rebecca,” Angel said softly, “Nigel just explained everything.”
Rebecca shot a look a fiery look at the watcher. Without another word she turned and stormed out of the library closely followed by Alex who looked as equally as Angry.
“Rebecca!” He yelled at her
Rebecca didn’t stop. With some effort he managed to get in front of her and block her path.
“Don’t you walk away from me,” he snapped, “Why the hell didn’t you tell me this?”
Rebecca looked around in frustration.
“I didn’t want you to worry.” Rebecca replied
He looked at her completely stunned.
“You thought keeping it to yourself would make me happier? Jesus Christ Rebecca Does this marriage mean anything to you?”
“Of course it does Alex!”
“Then why do you keep lying to me?”
“I just . . .”
Rebecca fumbled over her words.
“. . . We’ll solve this. It’s not like type of thing hasn’t happened before.”
Alex folded his arms and shook his head slowly.
“That’s it isn’t it,” he said, “Always have to be the big hero no matter who you hurt. You know, this martyr act is getting very old Rebecca.”
Rebecca Placed one hand on her hip and the other she ran through her hair.
“I was going to tell you Alex.”
“I seriously doubt that,” he replied, “and you don’t know how much hat hurts to say that.”
“I was.”
“When? Before or after you died?”
“That’s not fair.”
“Finally we agree.”
Alex turned and started to storm off. Rebecca looked at him anxiously
“Where are you going?” she asked
“Don’t know,” Alex replied angrily, “I’ll decide when I get there.”
Rebecca walked back into the library where Angel and Nigel where waiting. She folded her arms and glared at the both of them. Nigel looked at her in.
“I’m sorry Rebecca.”
“SHUT UP!” she yelled back at him, “I don’t want either of you near me at the moment.”
“In all fairness . . .” Angel started
Rebecca shot him a look. An energy ball formed in her hand which she tossed at him causing Angel to fly backwards and collide heavily into the wall. Rebecca gave both of them one last look before she left. Rebecca went back to her office and locked the door. She leaned against it for a moment before the tears began to form in her eyes. Rebecca covered her mouth as she cried hard to herself and slowly sank to the floor.
At the law offices of Alore & Struts a man entered and walked up and banged his hand on the front counter.
“Yo anybody home?” he asked
From the back Darrel walked up to the counter.
“Can I help you?” he asked
“Yeah I’m looking for a guy named Darrel. I’m supposed to do a job for him.”
“Are you Snake?” Darrel asked
The man looked Darrel up and down.
“What’s it to you?” he asked
“You’re snake,” Darrel replied happily, “hi Darrel Gibson.”
“So what’s this gig you want us to do?”
“First I need to clear something up,” Darrel said consulting some of his notes, “You are the last of the invulnerable vampires in this reality right?”
“That be us pal,” Snake replied, “The last of the Amarra vamps me and my boy are. If it wasn’t for that goddess and those god damn witches . . .”
“That’s all I needed to know.”
Nigel scribbled down some more notes. Snake was getting a little impatient
“So what are we doing?”
“Well, let me ask you a question,” Darrel replied, “How hungry are you?”
A smile crossed the vampires face.
“Oh I’m gonna like you.”
Angel sat quietly outside. He felt bad for Rebecca but understood Alex’s anger. As much as the Divine One was trying to help she didn’t think her plan through too clearly. Suddenly there was a bright flash nearby. Willow appeared and rushed over to the vampire.
“Angel, thank god,” she said in an urgent tone, “I need your help?”
Angel looked up at her curiously
“Will? What are you doing here?” he asked
“No time I need you to come with me now.”
“What’s happening?”
Willow rummaged around in her pocket. She pulled out a series of photos handed to her by high priestess Cassandra.
“Remember how I told you that I was working with other covens around the world to help find the surviving slayers?”
“Yeah.”
“I just heard back from one of the ones from California. They found one. . .”
Willow handed the photos to Angel.
“. . . Angel, its Penny.”
Angel studied the Photos closely. They showed a short red headed woman wearing a mask and a strange leather outfit.
“You mean Alex’s sister Penny?”
“Yeah. We have to go now the council’s already sent a team after her. We have to get there before they do.”
Willow turned to leave by Angel grabbed her by the arm.
“Wait Will,” Angel replied sadly, “There’s something more important.”
Willow was about to protest but the look in Angels eyes made her stop.
“What?” she asked
Rebecca was sitting quietly in her office when she heard the door knock.
“I’m busy.” She said in a depressed tone
“Rebecca?” Willow said from the other side.
Rebecca's eyes lit up. She jumped up from her seat and opened the door. Rebecca smiled warmly at the white haired woman on the other side of the doorway. Willow pouted
“Oh sweetie,” Willow said as she hugged Rebecca tightly, “Angel just told me I’m so sorry.”
Alex sat miserably in his office. Of all the places he could have chosen to storm to at random he chose work. The other professors saw the mood he was in and gave him his space which gave him time to stew in his own anger. Somebody knocked on the door.
“Yes?” he asked blandly
The door opened and Darrel walked in. Alex looked up at him curiously.
“Mr. Whitfield?” he asked
“Yeah?” Alex asked cautiously
“My name is Darrel Gibson I represent the law firm Alore & Struts.”
“What’s this about?”
“Oh don’t worry it’s nothing too serious I’ve just come to negotiate with you,” Darrel explained as he sad down in front of Alex, “in fact we both a mutual friend.”
“Who?”
“Rebecca, your wife, we’re the law firm who poisoned her.”
Alex’s face dropped. He starred at Darrel with an icy expression.
“Get out.” Alex said
Darrel smiled at him
“You don’t want me to do that. Not until you heard what I have to offer you.”
“What do you want?”
“Ah, you’ve dealt with lawyers before,” Darrel smirked, “my request is very simple. I just want to stone tablet sent to the archaeology department this morning.”
“Why do you want that?”
“My reasons are my own.”
Alex folded his arms defensively
“What makes you think I’ll help you?”
“What if I offered you her cure?”
Alex narrowed his eyes.
“You’re bluffing.”
Darrel shrugged at him.
“Why would I Bluff? Neither of us are loosing out on the deal.”
Alex narrowed his eyes.
“One call to my wife and she can be here in thirty seconds.”
“I wouldn’t do that. I have a feeling she’s going to be very busy.”
Snake and his gang stood out the front of Raleighfield high. The group of about twenty vampires stared hungrily at the building.
“Okay boys let’s put on our game faces!” Snake said
The vampires morphed their faces.
“it’s time to eat.”
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