Note: Spending three and a half hours in a vehicle reading Nancy Holders Queen of Slayers novel inspired me. Not the content of the novel but the style she adapted to write it. Re-reading Long Way to Happy I began to wonder in what directions I could take the story when adapting her writing style. For some writers this may prove to be a significant challenge one I agree with. Thankfully, in my Grade 12 University Writer’s Craft Course (Think of it as an advanced class for those who aren’t familiar with the Ontario Education System) our major project (worth 15% of our final mark) was too study a author or lyricist’s writing style, write an essay on it and create a literary piece of our own using that authors style. Although for the assignment I did Jon Bongiovi (Bon Jovi) receiving a high mark has inspired me to attempt the challenge once more. I have noticed re-writing it that it has expanded the story a great deal and therefore making it a great deal more detailed. What I ask of the regular readers who have read the original is to let me know which of the two you prefer. Those reading this for the first time may do the same. Let me know which of the two you prefer. Thank you, and enjoy!
Prologue
Saying Good-bye to the Past.
Egypt; May 23rd, 2005
The heat was unbearable. Just like any true massacre, bodies lay everywhere, both human and demon alike.
The victors this time around were not the mortals.
This time it was forces of darkness’ time to shine.
The victors in this battle where the demons known as Palgora demons. Demons that when threatened skewers come from their inner forearm to be used as their primary defense.
This was not a battle lead by the slayer; though a slayer was involved.
Faith; A slayer looking to atone for her sins. A slayer that would die honorably in the line of duty - a true champion.
This was battle governed by the United States Military and the re-grouped Initiative. Running this mission was the new head of the Initiative, Major Riley Finn.
Carnage. The military once again has let us down. Military Detective Alex Pearson thought to himself as he walked amongst the dead. His thoughts were understandable. In his twenty six years working with the best and worst the U.S. Army’s special sector he had not once witnessed an event as gruesome as what was lying before him. Bodies were full of deep wounds, many with blood still gushing from them. Some bodies were still in tact while others took their final positions with detached limbs.
There could be no survivors. Not from a battle such as this. Though, the military still held hope that somewhere amongst all the death, a heart was still beating.
There were two hearts still beating. One belonged to Major Riley Finn.
When the detective came across Major Finn’s body he was believed to be dead; though instinct caused a second glance at the body. It was then Detective Pearson realized that Major Finn was still breathing. Miracles were proven to be a true thing that day. Leaning over the body, Detective Pearson examined Major Finn in search of potentially fatal wounds as well as to check for a pulse. Miraculously Major Finn had one.
“I have located a survivor on sector eighteen. ID Major Riley Finn. No visible potentially fatal wounds to be accounted for. Labored breathing and faint pulse.” Detective Pearson placed two fingers on Major Finn’s neck in search of a pulse. A moment later he continued to speak into the walkie-talkie. “Fifty two beats per minute. Over.” The lord was on your side last night, Finn.
Washington, DC; May 24th, 2005
4:08am.
“Detective Pearson?” the voice of Dr. Nippon said breaking the silence of the dank hallways of Washington’s Walter Reed Army Medical Center. “We were able to stabilize Major Finn unfortunately, he is in a coma. There is only a twenty five percent chance of him ever waking up. He did suffer numerous fractures including to the ribs, wrist and ankle. There was also a minor puncture wound to his lower left abdomen, luckily it never damaged any vital organs. It is a miracle he survived that battle. The only other survivor found at the scene was,” the doctor paused for a moment as he looked over his clipboard in search of a name. His eyes geared away from his paper and towards the floor. “Samantha Finn. We pronounced her at 2:08am. There was nothing we could do for her.”
“Thank you,” Detective Pearson’s voice was low and full of sorrow. “It’s a shame this had to happen. They were two of our finest.” The detective sighed deeply standing from his seated position to shake the Doctors hand. “Thank you again, Doctor.”
Toronto, Ontario, Canada; July 22nd, 2005
Despite the blazing heat on the outside world of Toronto, nineteen-year-old Ashleigh Madison spent her time slicing up the ice of John Booth Memorial hockey arena near her residence where she currently lived with her parents. Over the past month, her mediocre abilities in athletics had grown nearly ten fold and with each passing day it continued to grow. With tryouts for York Universities Women’s Hockey Team just around the bend, Ashleigh was taking advantage of any ice time she could afford. She valued this time to escape from the world of hell she was familiar with.
Tonight, however, she was not alone. In the players benches stood a figure, watching the girl inventively.
The figure was a woman stood about five foot three with deep Irish red hair and a very old school professional style to her outfit. An essence of a British instructor.
Just another scout. Just wow them like you always do. Remember, you’re the reason they come. You are the best. Ashleigh thought to herself, attempting to keep her focus where it was needed. She smirked. Now they’re even coming from as far as Europe. Just do one final sprint and call it a day. You know what Jane and Finch is like come sunrise.
Ashleigh’s speed was undeniable. There was something abnormal about her new found abilities; about the way she maneuvered across the ice. It was flawless.
Ashleigh ripped the helmet off to reveal long raven locks that fell to the middle of her back. This was a girl with a dark, painful past and her piercing blue eyes could give it away in an instant. She was slightly above the average height standing about five foot eight; although with the heavy equipment on her shape was unknown though it was known she would have to be in superior shape to skate the way she was able too. In the corner of her eyes, Ashleigh noticed the figure move closer to her. Instincts kicked in.
That woman was no scout.
Ashleigh quickly slid her way into her locker room in hopes whoever had been watching her would disappear by the time she was changed. She may be able to take anyone down on the ice, making them cry for their mother, but off the ice, she was just another girl. Fighting was never her specialty.
Twenty minutes came and went. Ashleigh stuck her out of the locker room door, her hair now pulled back into a Deutschland baseball cap and took a very quick look around at her immediate surroundings.
She was alone.
With a sigh of relief Ashleigh grabbed her bag and with ease threw it over her shoulder, gathering her sticks as she passed. Suddenly, Ashleigh came to a halt. Her instincts were again in high alert. She wasn’t alone.
“What do you want?” Ashleigh said sternly though she didn’t move from her straight forward position.
“Miss Madison?” a voice echoed behind her.
Ashleigh spun around. “What can I do for you?”
“You must come with me,” the woman insisted as she approached Ashleigh cautiously. “Your destiny awaits you. You must fight them.”
“My destiny?” Ashleigh smirked. My destiny? God… what is this woman’s deal? Her face suddenly became serious. “Fight? Who do I have to fight? I don’t do the whole fighting thing well.”
“The vampires; the sun will fall and death shall follow. Only you can stop them.”
“Vampires?” Ashleigh laughed. Can you say loony bin, anyone? “Do you really expect me to buy into this bullshit? I’m about to go into university and here you are trying to sell me this idea about vampires and how I am the one that can stop them like I’m some sort of high school student.” Ashleigh shook her head in disbelief. This woman was definitely in need of some serious mental help. “Listen, lady, go find some naive little high school girl to sell this idea too. It doesn’t work for me. Vampires don’t exist. Deal with that fact. Better yet, there’s this place down on Queen Street… why don’t you go sell your idea to them. They’ll set you up with an incredibly comfortable white room with these really fun walls you can bounce off of, alright?”
The woman was not amused by Ashleigh’s sarcastic humor. “This is not a laughing matter, Ashleigh. Watching your abilities on the ice I know you will greatly succeed as the Vampire Slayer.”
“The what?”
“The vampire slayer,” the woman responded. Her voice was growing increasingly impatient with every word she spoke. “You are the chosen one to fight against the vampires, the demons and the forces of darkness. Without you the world would fall into such peril. Death, destruction… An army of demons recently killed an entire squad of United States Military personal in the deserts of Egypt leaving one sole survivor. They were foolish to believe that they could stop them. Only you can stop them.”
Ashleigh looked at the woman in disbelief for a brief moment before she cracked up into an indecisive laugh; trying desperately to cover up her mild belief of what was being said to her. She began to venture out of the arena and into the blistering heat, taking a quick glance at the setting sun as she headed towards her black Dodge Ram. ”Look, I don’t know who you are or what you want but you seriously need to go get that head checked. There is no such thing as vampires. It’s all a big jazz Hollywood made up to scare us out of our money. Propaganda. Read into it, you may learn something.”
“Ashleigh you don’t understand! Your athletic ability… it has improved ten fold over the past month and it continues to improve daily. Am I correct?”
Ashleigh stopped dead in her tracks and turned around to face the woman again. The woman successfully hit a nerve. “What does that have to do with any of this?”
“It is your slayer abilities coming out. Women are born with the ability to do things no one else is able too. They grow abilities in gymnastics that would rival any Gold Medalist. A properly trained slayer could bring down a black belt in any form of combat in a matter of seconds. In the event that they were athletes prior to discovering their powers there ability grows ten folds like yours has. One day you were struggling in the world of hockey and the next day you realized that you were suddenly better then anyone else. This happened on May 23rd, 2005. That’s the day Faith died.”
How did she know that? This woman… she must be stalking me. Yea… that’s it. She’s a loony stalker! Ashleigh thought to herself, amazed by the knowledge this woman had. Although she didn’t want to admit it but perhaps there was some truth behind what the woman was saying. “Who’s Faith?”
“The previous slayer; when one slayer dies the next one is called up to assume her duties. Faith is dead and you’re next in line,” reality was beginning to sink into Ashleigh in a very harsh way. “I am Trista Anderson, your watcher. Prospect Cemetery tonight, come with me and I will prove to you a world unlike anything you could ever imagine.”
Ashleigh gaze found the sky above them. “The sun goes down in about ten minutes.”
“Then we better hurry.”
Prospect Cemetery
This is insanity. You’re in a creepy cemetery with an equally creepy woman. What are you thinking, Ashleigh? Curiosity killed the bloody cat, remember?!
Ashleigh stood in front of the freshly dug grave with intensity and confusion dancing in her eyes. In her right hand was a tightly gripped wooden stake just incase Trista Anderson was true to her words.
Vampires aren’t real, remember? Hollywood propaganda. You did your thesis on Hollywood propaganda and got top marks. Ashleigh attempted to force the thoughts outside of her mind; so far she had been horribly unsuccessful. Part of her always knew the world was a dark place and perhaps for once she would have closure as to why. If vampires really existed, perhaps she would have closure. Part of her had to believe. If it didn’t give her closure on why the world was such a dark place, perhaps then it would explain the two bite marks found on her boyfriend’s neck the day he died.
Ashleigh looked down at her watch; the sun had been down for nearly a half hour and still no sign of the supposed vampire. Her hope was fading fast. Ashleigh felt the ground beneath her shift. Her eyes widened as she looked down. She couldn’t believe her eyes; a man was climbing from the ground up.
Vampires are real. Very real. Reality as she knew it shattered.
Ashleigh shouted in alarm and jumped back. Her veins were now surging with fear and a new sense of adrenaline. It was like a rush going through her; an un-welcomed reminder of her days when she was a heavy drug user. The vampire was now standing inches away from her, snarling, yellow eyes glowing looking for his first kill. Instincts kicked in and with a rather messy movement, she kicked the vampire in the side. With ease, the vampire grabbed her leg and threw her twenty feet back, sending her crashing into another tombstone.
This should have knocked me out. This should have hurt a lot more…
Coughing, she stood back up, ran towards the vampire and jumped onto its back. They wrestled like this for a couple minutes until Ashleigh was once airborne. This time is was into a crypt, temporarily sending Ashleigh out of action.
Okay, that hurt. Ashleigh thought, feeling her head. She felt something warm. Alarmed she looked at her hand. Blood. That should have knocked me out. Why am I not knocked out?
The vampire stalked towards her with one thing in mind – dinner. As the vampire charged, Ashleigh grabbed a cross and held it up; the vampire walked right into it. With a loud scream, filling the surrounding area the exposed skin burned. The vampire stumbled back; the symbol of the cross was burned into his skin.
Ashleigh’s eyes widened. Vampires are real. No… this is just some wacky… concentrate… that stick… where’s that stick. THERE!
Angrily, the vampire lunged at Ashleigh. Ashleigh jumped out of the way; with perfect accuracy and balance, she landed on a near by tombstone. The vampire came closer but Ashleigh leaped onto the vampires shoulders and using her legs, she flipped the vampire onto the grass. With the wooden stake still in hand she climbed on top the vampire and will full force and both hands on the stake she thrusted it into the chest of the vampire missing the heart.
“Okay, not the heart.” Ashleigh removed the stake, inched it a few centimeters towards the left and with both hands drove it into the heart of a vampire.
Seconds later the vampire began to incinerate then exploded into a pile of dust.
Ashleigh slayed a vampire. Everything the woman had said finally made sense.
Ashleigh’s entire life finally made sense that she got.
“Do you see what you can do now? Do you see what your powers mean?” Trista said emerging from the dark. “You are the slayer.”
Ashleigh stood up, her body still shaking from the adrenaline. She glanced over at her watcher and gave her a sly smile. “Where do I sign?”
Washington D.C.; July 23rd, 2005
6:05am.
The darkness of the dank hospital room was unsettling. The steady sound of a heart monitors along side the sounds from various other machines echoed throughout the private. Two months had passed since the devastating attacks from the Palgora demon army in Egypt which left a hundred military personal dead and one fighting for their life.
Major Riley Finn was still victim to a coma.
Visions in his mind began to play in fast forward. Images of his first encounter with Buffy Summers in the UC Sunnydale campus bookstore; to their passionate and intense relationship right into their bitter end; his courtship and eventual marriage to Sam; their unique visit to Sunnydale and encounter with the slayer; their passionate marriage sizzling into a dormant rut which ended, not by divorce papers as his wife had wished but instead in the horrid battle with the Palgora demon. Everything went dark once more until images of a family unknown to him being attacked by a gathering of vampires in a small home. A young blonde girl no older then eighteen or nineteen was being held still by a pair of vampires.
Forcing her to watch as they slaughtered each member of her beloved family.
. Upon completion of the massacre, the head vampire walked over to the girl and grabbed her by the throat, lifting her slightly off the ground. Her intense blue eyes, blood-shot from tears, began to burn with fury and sorrow; using those emotions she gathered the strength necessary and with a swift movement, kicked the vampire in the midsection sending him flying a couple feet back.
This began a full on assault. One the girl was happy to take on.
With relative difficulty she brought down the vampires. The girl took in her surroundings. She was alone and surrounded by death. The image of the girl standing, tears falling from her cheeks froze while the room around her began to spin. Suddenly it stooped. Almost instantaneously the young girl fell to her knees and a loud; heart broken wail filled the air.
In that instant Major Finn’s eyes shot open. His eyes were drowned with confusion as her surveyed the room around him. Where am I? How did I get here? The battle – Sam… oh, lord, please let Sammy be alright. One of the many machines began to go off with a blistering noise, startling the Major. Within seconds, two nurses as well as Detective Alex Pearson entered the room.
I’m in a hospital. I survived the battle. Where’s Sam? Why isn’t she here? Even for the papers…
“Major Finn,” Detective Pearson said softly as he approached the end of Major Finn’s bed. “Welcome back. I was beginning to worry about you. How are you feeling?”
Riley just stared at him for a moment with nothing but utter confusion in his eyes. “What happened? Where am I? Who are you? Where’s my wife?”
“I am Detective Alex Pearson of the United States Military. Currently you are in Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington D.C.” Detective Pearson walked over to the seat next to Major Finn and sat down. “Do you remember anything in regards to the Palgora demons?”
“I remember tracking them in Egypt and that we were bombarded by them. I was rendered out conscious early on in the battle after being stabbed by a skewer. I don’t recall anything after that.” Major Finn grew annoyed. His final question had been ignored. “My wife? Where is she?”
Detective Pearson sighed; although he knew this question would arise he despised being the one to inform him of the battles outcome. “Two survivors were taken from the battle scene. Two out of nearly a hundred soldiers and military personal – that’s it. Your wife, Samantha was the other survivor.”
She’s alive! Thank the heavens my wife is alive. “Where is she? I must go to her…”
“She arrived at the hospital her in D.C. a couple hours after you were and was pronounced just after two am. I’m so very sorry, Major Finn.”
No… “Dead!?!”
9:02am.
Major Riley Finn truly knew what it meant to be alone. No wife. No family. Nothing.
As Major Finn lay in the hospital bed, no longer attached to the monitors he became lost in his thoughts and memories.
The military had forsaken him.
They had cost him everything – and for what? The military cost him his relationship with Buffy – it wasn’t until he returned to Sunnydale that he realized that she truly did love him and in turn was deeply hurt by the fact that he was married less then two years after leaving; They cost him his family. They turned their back on him upon his return to the Military and the Initiative believing he was playing with his life as well as theirs; they cost him his marriage. Sam wanted to settle down, outside of the Military world in his home state of Iowa which he was more than happy to do. Together they took a leave of absence to create a family of their own; until one night he was offered a job running the Initiative, ultimately earning a promotion. Seizing the once in a life time opportunity, he and his wife relocated to Washington D.C. believing he would be able to spend a great deal of time home. This was not the way. Instead, Major Finn was shipped away to the Western Europe to track down, find and capture an army of Vampires causing havoc and destruction. It was believed he would be gone a month tops. The mission took a year.
Upon arrival to the United States, Major Finn was expecting a warm welcoming from his wife of nearly four years. Instead, he found her in bed with Graham, a long time friend and partner. It was then that his wife broke his heart in ways he could not have imagined.
Flashback
April 2nd, 2005
He stood before his wife; tears welting in his eyes. Just a few hours ago, he returned to the United States of America, unannounced in hopes to surprise his wife after a longer-then-expected absence. He was expecting to lose himself in his wife’s arms before they left the following day to embark on a mission tracking a group of Palgora demons in South America. Instead he found his wife making love to another man in their bed. That man was Graham.
The fight between the two men was easily one sided for Graham had not fully recovered from the injury sustained part way through the mission in Western Europe; the same injury which allowed him to return to U.S. soil eight months ago. If it wasn’t for his wife, Graham wouldn’t have left the room in one piece. Despite everything she had done to him, he could never bring himself to strike her. He let them go; both of them.
Now they stood in Walter Reed Military Hospital’s private waiting room having what would probably be their last conversation without lawyers involved.
“How…” Riley choked out, tears falling from his face. “How could you do something like this to me?”
Sam sighed heavily and sat down in one of the red leather seats; refusing to make eye contact with her husband. “You were gone, Riley. You left me alone… you told me to stay in the U.S. because I was pregnant. I was only expecting you gone for a month… two months max.” She stood up and began to pace through the room. “When I heard that one of the leading men had been severely injured and was returned to U.S. soil back in July I prayed it was you. I rushed to the hospital only to discover it was Graham. He was a friend of yours as well as a friend of mine so I visited him on a regular basis. In November, Graham was up for the option for release from the hospital and with your permission I brought him home to assist in her recovery…”
Riley jaw tensed up. “When I told you that you could bring him into our home I said it because he has always been like a brother to me. Not because I thought my wife would fuck him!” Riley picked up a near by coffee table and sent it flying into a near by wall. He spun and took his wife by the shoulders in attempt to make her look him in the eyes. She did.
She had the same vacant look in her eyes Buffy did through the latter part of their relationship. His heart shattered. She doesn’t love you. He let her go and punched a near by wall.
“I trusted you!” Riley shouted; startling his wife. “You were supposed to be loyal to me! You were supposed to…”
“Supposed to what?” Sam snapped coldly. “Wait for you to come home while I was dealing with a pregnancy on my own.” It was her turn for tears. “That night I lost the baby… It was our wedding anniversary, remember?”
“I remember. I can’t forget.” Whispered Riley
“I went home from the hospital night and I called you. We cried on the phone together for hours. I know it killed you. You wanted nothing more than to be a father.” Sam took a seat again, this time beside Riley. “After getting off the phone with you, Graham heard me crying and came to see if I was alright. We began talking and I told him how I felt and he was there comforting me. I was hurting and you weren’t there to comfort me in the ways I needed to be comforted the most.” Riley’s eyes widened as his wife continued.
She didn’t… not on our anniversary.
“It was never Graham’s intension but it happened. He confessed to me his true feelings. That he had been in love with me that first night we met… a year before I ever even knew you. We dated briefly back them but when I met you… I was captivated. It was infatuation and I knew it. When I learned about what happened between you and the slayer… I knew it would be a challenge. I mean, any woman who could make a man forget the slayer…” An almost sadistic smile was on Sam’s face and for the first time since their meeting five years ago, he hated her.
Congratulations Riley! You married a whore! Riley looked at her; all emotions in his eyes were dead. His was numb. “You never loved me, did you?”
Sam sighed, stood up and returned to her comforted pacing movement. “I loved you, Riley. I was just never in love with you. The slayer was though; I saw that every time she looked at you when we visited Sunnydale.”
Riley’s eyes found the floor. He knew his wife was right. During that visit he saw the same love for Buffy as he had always felt towards her. His eyes quickly found his wife. He had been living a lie all along. He loved Sam, dearly. She never loved him. She was only ever infatuated with him.
“There was no better feeling then watching the pain in her eyes when she saw us together. Or when we walked through the cemetery, every word I said to her… about us… it killed her. I had won.”
“Was that all I was to you… a trophy?”
“You were more then that, Riley,” Sam grinned. Riley winced. There was nothing but sheer evil in her presence. She was enjoying her torment on him. “You were security. I saw you and I knew you would make it big in the Military. I would be able to travel, see the world and someday stand by you as you ran the entire Military as General. People were talking saying that was exactly where you were headed.”
You were used, Riley. Played for the fool you are. Riley sunk deeper into his seat. ”Why Graham then? If I was your ticket to power why cheat on me with a man that will never make it further then a Sergeant?”
“Love, Riley.” Sam replied; this time her voice was softer, more genuine. “I couldn’t deny it anymore that Graham was the love of my life. I knew that night, lying on that bed, crying my eyes out lost in sorrow over the loss of my child…our child that he was the one I was truly meant to spend the rest of my life with.” She sighed happily and took a seat across from Riley and brushed a strand of her brown hair from her face. “I was faced with a choice: remain with you and have that power or follow my heart. I did the right thing and followed my heart.”
“You did the right thing?” Riley snapped giving his wife a look that could kill. “You cheated on your husband on your anniversary then continued with the relationship for four and a half months knowing at anytime you could be caught. That’s why you never told me about what was going on, because you loved the danger behind being caught.”
“It was worth it, Riley.” Sam replied coldly, knowing just how much she was hurting him and enjoying every second of it. “Tomorrow you and I, we leave for South Africa to track this pack of Palgora demons… when we get back after the mission I expect you to sign the divorce papers my lawyer has waiting at his office; Graham and I would like to get married upon my return.” Sam stood up, studying Riley inventively. Her work here was done. As she walked towards the door she displayed satisfaction and dominance over her highly ranked husband. With any hopes it would be a long time before he ever opened his heart again.
She was right.
End of Flashback.
He was done with the Military.
As of 8:47am he was released from The United States Military under an Honorable Discharge.
I’m free… Where do I go now? I don’t have anything left. No wife. No friends; they played me like I fool. No family. No career. Nothing. Nothing but a desire to destroy the world of the forces of darkness. Question is, how the hell do I do that now? Sunnydale has been destroyed. I have no idea where the slayer is located now… Angel… he has that place in Los Angelus. Maybe I could get a job with him…
Riley’s thoughts were interrupted by the sound of his hospital room door opening. Expecting a nurse, Riley’s eyes found the window. The dank weather outside matched his heart: dark and dreary. From the corner of his eyes he discovered the figure entering the room was not a nurse. They didn’t even belong to the military. It was a British man.
It was Rupert Giles; former watcher to Buffy Summers.
“Giles,” Riley sat up, staring inventively at the watcher confused as to the possible reasons Giles would grace him with his presence. “What are you doing here?”
“It is great to see you again, Riley,” Giles replied with a smile as he took a spot on the chair at Riley’s bedside. “Or would you prefer Major Finn?”
“Riley, please. What’s going on?”
“I doubt that you are aware of the fact that I am once again working for the watchers council.” Riley simply gave Giles a black stare. “Just as I suspected; the council has an understanding that you have recently decided to end your career with the U.S. Military, am I correct?”
“More or less.” Riley’s voice lowered.
“I am sure, however, that you are aware of Faith’s death in the battle with the Palgora demons?”
That could only mean one thing… when one Slayer dies…
“New slayer?” Riley questioned jumping to his feet in search for a shirt.
“Correct.”
“Alright, what does this have to do with me?” I highly doubt it has anything to Buffy. She probably never wants to see me again. Can’t say that I blame her.
“The watchers council would like to offer you and Sam a job as the watchers for the new slayer. She goes by the name…” Giles paused seeing the sudden look of despair on the face of Riley. “Riley, what’s wrong?”
“Sam. She died as a result of her injuries suffered in battle with the Palgora demons.” Even if she was alive, she wouldn’t help. She’d be way to busy with Graham.
“Oh dear, I am so sorry. I had no idea.”
“It’s alright.” She never loved me anyway. “Please, continue.”
“Um…alright,” Giles looked at Riley for a moment, watching as the widow buttoned up the blue work shirt unsure if the business he was bringing forth was appropriate. Reluctantly, the council sent him on a business call which could not go un-avoided and was required to do his job regardless of new situations. “The young girls name is Ashleigh Madison. She is currently in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She was called up yesterday however, earlier this evening her watcher as well as family fell victim to a horrid attack from vampires.”
Riley’s gaze found the floor with malcontent. “The girl is she about eighteen or nineteen with blonde hair, blue eyes and stands about five foot eight with a curvy build?”
Giles removed his glasses and gave Riley a rather peculiar stare. “That’s correct. How did you-?”
“I had a dream… I guess… about a young girl being held down watching as a group of vampires attacked and killed her family. I had no idea that she was a slayer.” Riley’s voice turned into a whisper with those final words. “Let me get this straight. She’s a new slayer whose watcher and family were killed the day after being called up and now she needs a new slayer and the council thinks I would be a good candidate for this job?”
“Well…yes.” Giles stood up, put his glasses back on and walked over beside Riley, placing a sympathetic hand on his shoulder. “With your training and experience in the Initiative we believe you will be able to connect with the slayer at a different level. She’s not the standard age for a slayer to be called up. As you know Buffy, Faith, Kendra and most other slayers are called up around the age of fifteen or sixteen. Especially now that she’s grief ridden we are afraid she may wind up turning into another Faith without the proper guidance.”
“I have experience with the initiative, yes, but I don’t have the slightest idea on how to train a slayer.” His voice filled with uncertainty. “I dated a slayer. I trained with a slayer…”
“You spent over a year at the front lines in the life of a slayer, Riley.” Giles’ voice was stern. “You knew and understood Buffy better then anyone before.”
“No,” Riley’s voice dropped again. He walked over the bed and sat down on the edge; his eyes not leaving the tiled floor. “Angel did.”
Giles pulled the chair right in front of Riley and sat in it. He has to understand. The prophecy…No… it’s too soon for that. “Angel understood how it felt to be trapped in a world where there was no desire to be.” Giles removed his glasses and gave Riley the infamous ‘something’ face. “You understood Buffy from the human stand point. You were a mortal fighting for the same thing. I understand I may not be the best to explain this but you have to believe me. There is no one else for this job. Only you can do it.”
“No, Giles, I can’t.” Riley snapped. “Everything I ever touch falls apart. My life in the Initiative; my relationship with Buffy; my relationship with my wife… Giles, If Sam would have survived this battle she would have divorced me. Even my life in the Military is shot straight to hell.” Riley stood; anger pulsing from every vain. He paused for a moment then turned to Giles with a look of hopelessness. “All I ever wanted to do was help make this world a safer place. That’s why I joined the Army. Then when I was introduced to the world of demons, vampires and the forces of darkness I knew that this was put on this world to do.” He turned away, gritting his teeth. He had to keep from breaking down. “When I met Buffy, that whole world came together the way it was meant too. I felt complete. Like this was everything I needed. I was meant to be with the slayer. I was meant to help her through the world of slaying until the very day she died. I wasn’t. She died and I didn’t even know. I was too busy wallowing in self pity to go back to her.”
“Think about what you are saying, Riley.” Giles replied calmly to the distraught young man. “You are correct. You understand your destiny. Why run from it?” Riley spun around looking at Giles in confusion. “You are meant to help the slayer. You are meant to help her through the world of slaying until the very day she dies. She hasn’t died yet but I am afraid if you do not help her then that is precisely what will happen.” Giles was finally beginning to become angry. “This is a slayer which needs you, Ashleigh I mean. You were always meant to assist in the fight against the forces of darkness and you were meant to stand by the slayer at all costs. Just not Buffy and not as her boyfriend; your destiny is to stand by Ashleigh as her watcher.” If this doesn’t work Rupert, I’m afraid I don’t know what will.
Riley paused for a moment. He needed a chance to absorb all that was being said to him. Perhaps he’s right. It does make some sense. But I don’t know. Something doesn’t seem right behind his reasoning. I think he knows more than he is willing to share with me. Then again, maybe that’s the entire point. Perhaps there is only so much that I can know. I have two choices here. Find out what is missing from Giles’ reasoning or turn away and attempt to build somewhat of a normal life. Riley sighed heavily. It was clear what it was he had to do. He turned to Giles, his face was stern. His eyes burned with a new sense of passion and hatred.
Hatred for the forces of darkness.
Riley Finn was no longer a Military man; he was a watcher.
“Get me on the next flight out of Washington to wherever this girl is. I have a slayer to find.”
Toronto, Ontario, Canada; July 24th, 2005
It was only two o’clock in the morning.
Ashleigh had already managed to bring down nearly a dozen of vampires simply by walking down Queen Street. The vampires of Toronto attempted to blend in with the Gothic culture of the city. A smile task which proved difficult for any civilian to tell they were a creature of the night.
Not for Ashleigh. The vampire radar sense she had recently acquired had proven it’s self useful.
Ashleigh was taking a well deserved breather in the west end of town as she sat on a tombstone at a Jewish cemetery.
She was a total mess. Her hair was pulled into a ponytail with a couple stray strands accentuating her oblong face. Her usually well kept eyeliner was now running down her face thanks to the tears that keep finding her as images of the night before play in her mind like a broken record.
Vampires destroyed her life and now she was going to do all she could to make sure they don’t repeat what they did to her on anyone else. She was the slayer – she had that chance few would ever get, true revenge.
She was terrified. She had no knowledge of the world of slaying or demons or vampires except for the fact that vampires are killed with wooden stakes, beheading, exposure to sunlight, holy water and that they have an intense hate for garlic. She was alone, truly alone.
Her thoughts were shattered when she heard movement behind her. She gripped the stake in her hand and began to count in her head down from ten. Once she reached one she knew the object was close enough and leaped onto the tombstone feet first and did a high kick off the tombstone – a perfect connect. She leaped up and grinned – her advisory looked like a man, meaning one thing; vampire. Without wasting another second she went in for the kill. With little problem the vampire grabbed the stake and threw it to the side. Ashleigh jumped back assuming the defensive position.
The vampire’s hands went up. He was surrendering. Either that or it was a lame attempt to claim he was there on a peaceful house call. “Nice reflexes, Ashleigh. However, I am no vampire.” His hands dropped to his slide as he slowly approached the girl. Her fists clenched harder. The red light clicked inside the young mans head. This was as close as he was getting to the slayer. “My name is Riley Finn and I have been sent to you by the watcher’s council as your new watcher.”
Ashleigh’s eyes widened and jaw dropped. No longer was she alone – she had a new, very gorgeous watcher. There is no way the council would send something this FINE to me. Unless, of course they’re looking for trouble… wait a minute. I’ve seen that face before… “Hi…”
Riley smirked. The slayer still held her fighting stance. She’s smart. Not quick to let down her guard. Instincts are in check. “We have much work to do, Ashleigh. Much training is in order for you if you want to become the very best slayer you can be.”
“How do you intend to do that? Drills? I watch the news Riley Finn; you used to be a member of the U.S. Military.”
“Not at all, my dear; we are however going on a trip to Cleveland, Ohio.”
“Big evil there waiting to be slain?” Ashleigh finally let loose of her fighting stance.”
“Yes and no.” Riley informed as he walked around his slayer for a better observation. “Although there is evil on the hellmouth the real reason is a legend resides there and she is going to give you some pointers on what it takes to be the best of the best.”
Ashleigh really hated playing games. “And she is?”
“Buffy Summers…” His voice dropped a bit. Ashleigh noticed this.
“The legendary vampire slayer that Trista, my old watcher mentioned. She explained the whole ordeal about her dying back in 1997 and a new slayer being called up named Kendra then her death and Faith, who was apparently psycho or something. Then she kicked the bucket it some war in Egypt with these pal-something demons and there you have it. I’m next in line. I get it.” Ashleigh smirked placing her hands onto her broad hips. “What makes you think this Buffy will help us?”
“She’s an old friend of mine.”
Rrrrriiiiiggggghhhhhhttttt. Ashleigh laughed under her breath and moved closer to her new watcher. “You dated a slayer? I’m impressed. Looking to re-kindle a little romance while you’re there; oh wait, you can’t. Word is she married the ex-vampire now human Angel guy.”
She married a vampire!?! What the hell is that girl thinking!?! Riley’s jaw became tense. He had to hide his anger from the slayer. “I’m not looking to re-kindle my relationship with her. In fact I am not looking for a relationship period. My wife just died.”
“Oh… sorry to hear that,” Ashleigh replied half-sarcastically. “If we’re shipping out, we should really get at it. I don’t want to be in this city any longer then I have to be.” Her eyes found the exit. She was finally free from the city holding so many of her broken dreams. “You lost your wife, I lost my family. I lost my life. You left the army to escape the pain now it’s my turn to escape the pain.”
With that the slayer turned and exited the cemetery.
Good-bye Toronto. Good riddance.
Riley watched as the slayer walked ahead of him and sighed. “To Cleveland we go.”
A lot of work went into re-writing it. I hope it was worth it. Please, let me know honestly what you think of it. Good or bad I don't care. Suggestions are always welcomed. If for some reason you feel like you don't want to reply on here for whatever reason but still want to contact me, e-mail me at: rabbitx14@hotmail.com.
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