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Some characters and elements of this story are the property of Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy and are used without authorization. No copyright infringement is intended. The author receives no compensation from the distribution of this work. Any comments or criticism would be welcome.
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Part Three
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"OK, look at this." Willow called Xander over to the computer after half an hour of furious hacking. "These are the police notes for each of the 4 murders."
"Hmm, I'm noticing a trend here, a certain hallmark," commented Xander, eyeing the evidence.
"Vampires," agreed Willow. "So they're probably connected to Giles, but why now, what's the plan?"
"Maybe they just had one prophecy too many," suggested Xander.
Willow ignored him. "There has to be a good reason. Why would they suddenly do this? And why these particular watchers?"
"More books?" groaned Xander.
"Mmm hmm," yawned Willow.
"Slave driver."
Willow sat slumped in front of yet another book detailing the current members of the Watcher's Council, and the Watchers. Her eyes continued to stare at the neatly typed pages, but her brain no longer processed the information. Her search had led her to information on each of the Watchers who had been killed, but she could see no connection between them.
Xander turned to the noise of Willow's head hitting the table. He considered waking her, but he couldn't bring himself to disturb her. Instead, he stood up and began to pace, muttering to himself as he went. "Four dead, well, five. One, two, three, four... location?" He considered. "Nah, too obvious. Status? Hmm, and Giles was number five? I've seen his car..." Xander cursed under his breath. He was sure that the link between them was staring him in the face.
"Will! Will! I've got it!" Xander danced over to his sleeping friend.
"Mmm? Where? Xander?" Willow blinked the sleep out of her eyes. "Oh."
"I've got it. I know what they're doin'," grinned Xander.
Willow stared up at him, waiting for him to continue.
"Look at this!" he exclaimed excitedly.
"A ritual?" mumbled Willow. "How...?"
"You're missing the point, Will. The people who're dead are the only ones who knew how, and according to this, there's only one guy left!"
Willow shook herself awake and peered at the book describing the purpose of the ritual. "Oh! We better find him, and... get to Buffy," she cried, standing up so suddenly she almost fell straight back down again.
"You think I'm right? Ooooo, many points for Xander!"
Willow smiled. "Told you you weren't stupid."
"I think we should have a party to celebrate, right now. These occasions are so rare they should be noted, made noteworthy."
"Xander!" Willow rolled her eyes at him.
"OK, OK. Rescue watcher and Buffy, party later."
"I hope we're in time," commented Willow.
* * *
"Xander, don't you think we should've taken the bus rather than stealing your Mom's car?" asked Willow, nervously watching him drive. "You're not even supposed to be driving..."
"Will. We're on a mission to save someone's life, I'm sure my Mom and any cops we come across could be made to see it my way. And besides, I don't think they'd be happy about the crossbow and all the stakes on the bus."
"That's true," conceded Willow, no less worried.
"And I've watched Cordy do the driving thing loads of times.
"And not crash, mostly," added Willow brightly.
"See, told ya it’d be OK," agreed Xander. "How do these people manage to arrange to be away just when they're needed? I think they must have some sort of sixth sense that involves danger avoidance." He paused, then added, "I think I want one too."
"Not usually," protested Willow. "Cordy usually helps."
"Well, she wasn’t available, I asked."
"How come?" asked Willow.
"Oh, I dunno, hairdresser, tennis club, they all kinda run together. She's busy, let's just leave it at that."
"So you're driving," stated Willow.
"Yes!" Xander looked exasperated. "It'll be fine, Will. An emergency is an emergency. And besides, my Mom's away, she'll never even notice."
"I had to lie to my Mom," said Willow guiltily.
"See? And you're gettin' at me. You're bad to the bone, Willow Rosenberg."
"Mmm hmm," agreed Willow.
"Ah ha! I think we're here, err, wherever. Lucky it wasn't far. most of the watchers seem to be English from what I've heard. Not that I would know at all. Mind you, stowing away on a plane coulda been kinda fun..."
Willow swallowed. "It might be more than luck that he's here," suggested Willow. "maybe Watchers come to the Hellmouth too."
"Ooooo yeah. Nice holiday spot, friendly neighbours..."
"... It's here! Stop!" shouted Willow, causing Xander to slam on the brakes a little too abruptly.
"You better be right, Will. Not much time."
"Oh, umm, time! Yeah, one minute to sunset," hurried Willow, diving out of the car with her arms full of stakes, crosses and holy water.
Together, fully prepared, they ran up to the house, peering in each of the windows to see if there was anything going on. The house was empty.
"There's no one here, Will. I think we missed him," started Xander.
"Wait! I think I hear something," instructed Willow. "A car..."
They ran to the front of the house, expecting another middle-aged, tweed-clad watcher. Instead, they were confronted by a young man of perhaps 28 years in a biker jacket.
"Is he the watcher or the vampire?" asked Xander, confused.
"I, umm, don't know," responded Willow, equally bewildered. "Oh, but another one. He looks the same!"
"Typical, there they go, tryin' to confuse us again," groaned Xander. "Why couldn't he just wear tweed? Wait, did I just wish someone would wear tweed? I'm losin' it, finally, whatever it was, it's gone."
"The first one was the watcher, and other one's attacking!" panicked Willow, racing out of their hiding place holding her jar of holy water and a stake.
"Wait, Will!" yelled Xander, diving out after her.
Between them, they prised the vampire from the watcher, aided significantly by the holy water and Xander's cross. Before the vampire could escape them again, Xander grabbed Willow's stake from her, and went for the plunge.
"Stop!" cried the watcher, grabbing Xander's poised arm.
The vampire squirmed. "What?!" yelled Xander. "He tried to kill you!"
"But you're a watcher," said Willow. "You're supposed to help the Slayer to rid the world of vampires."
"And so I shall," agreed the watcher, in a softly British accent. "But I think this chap's going to help us a little first."
The Watcher, whose name was Pol, quickly dragged the vampire to the basement and chained him to the wall.
"Now. We have a little matter of you trying to kill me to discuss, I think," he began, brandishing an evil looking weapon.
"You can’t harm me, Watcher. I am prepared. I know who you are."
"Oh yeah? We’ll see about that." Pol took the device and strapped it firmly to one of the vampire’s fingers, tightening it slowly.
The vampire struggled a little, but said nothing.
"I can turn you to dust a piece at a time," threatened Pol calmly.
The vampire stared right back.
Hidden in the shadows, Willow and Xander exchanged glances, silently agreeing to leave. Quietly, they crept back up the stairs into the house. Pol saw them go, and smiled to himself.
"Who is that guy?" commented Xander.
"I, uh, don’t know. I thought he was a Watcher," swallowed Willow. "But, like, scary Watcher!"
"We could get outta here, Will. Do the danger avoidance thing," suggested Xander.
"But we haven’t found Buffy yet," argued Willow. "We’re gonna have to wait, uh, and see what he finds out."
"I don’t even wanna think about it, Will. The whole image is more than I can handle."
"Yeah, what was that thing he was holding?" Willow noticed the pained look on Xander’s face. "Oh, sorry Xander."
"Now, if we can just manage to stop mentioning that thing, I’m gonna get down to some sensibly non-scary thoughts. Like homework, relatively non-scary. Which is good. Do you think it’s possible to just listen?"
"I suppose," nodded Willow. "I-if we close our eyes. But imagination might be worse than… seeing for real."
"My imagination isn’t that freaked out," argued Xander. "That is so much worse than anything I could dream up."
"Maybe," agreed Willow tentatively. "So you wanna go back?"
"Nope, I so don’t want to go back. But I think it’s important. For our country, Will."
"Well, we do need to know where Buffy is," conceded Willow.
"There ya go. Best argument yet. I rest my case," smiled Xander, before realising what it was they had just agreed to.
They returned to the basement to see what remained of the vampire smoking from the jagged edges of his limbs, and still determinedly refusing to co-operate. Quickly, they both turned to face the safe, normal house at the top of the stairs, trying to maintain a grip on the situation.
"Ready yet, or shall I carry on?" asked Pol. "She knew what would happen, you know. Why do you think she send you instead of coming herself. She wants to see me there. It adds to the flavour of the challenge."
Event turned away from the action, Willow and Xander could tell the vampire was thinking it over, finally, he responded.
"Perhaps you are right, Watcher. But then again, you may over-estimate Ilona’s opinion of you." The vampire spoke raggedly, obviously already in great pain.
"You know that’s not true," retorted Pol. "She said as much herself when we last met."
"She has no opinion of you," grimaced the vampire.
"Sorry? Could you repeat that?" asked Pol politely.
Willow and Xander heard a sickening crack.
"She has no opinion of you," gasped the vampire.
Another sickening crack.
"Again."
"She has…"
A crack.
".. no .."
"… Where is she? Let her tell me herself!" yelled Pol. "If I’m so harmless, why worry?"
"… opinion."
Crack.
Finally, the vampire surrendered. Shortly before sunrise, Pol took the remains back out for the sun. The vampire was in no condition to escape, he simply lay there as Pol turned to Willow and Xander.
"She’s in Scotland, near Loch Lomond."
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