Chapter 13

“The house is dark,” Rich said to Joyce while he looked up at the Summers’ home.

“Well, it is Thursday,” Joyce replied briskly. “If Dawn got kidnapped on Tuesday, they’re probably off rescuing her.” She stepped up to the door to unlock it. Once inside, Joyce led her new husband towards the living room.

Rich and Joyce gasped in surprise when the lights suddenly came on, and their friends and family yelled, “Surprise.”

Joyce put her hand on her chest. “Oh my.” Across the mantle was a banner with the words, ‘Congratulations, Rich and Joyce Chase’. “What is all this?”

Cordelia waved a hand towards the decorations. “Well, Elizabeth and Dawn assured us that a trip to Las Vegas would not have any gambling. So, we knew it was an elopement.”

“Glad to see that we’re right.” Elizabeth caught up Joyce’s hand. “Nice. Very nice. This one just might be a keeper.” The Slayer glanced at Rich, and she narrowed her eyes. “If he knows what’s good for him, he’ll treat you like a queen.”

“Are you threatening my father, Elizabeth?”

Elizabeth glanced at Cordelia. “Better me than William.”

“Oh yes.” Cordelia nodded. “The Slayer test only leaves you maimed. William’s test will kill you.”

“So, did anything exciting happen while we were gone?” Joyce asked. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously at Elizabeth.

Elizabeth smiled while she waved a negligent hand in the air. “Oh, just the usual. Dawn was kidnapped, we have a new vampire in the gang, and we’re gonna be going to war in a few days, but enough about Sunnydale. Tell us about the elopement.” She grabbed her mother’s arm, and she pulled the older woman towards the dining room where Anya had herded the other women towards already.

Joyce chuckled. “That’s Sunnydale for you.” She allowed herself to be led to the other room. Looking back over her shoulder, Joyce noticed that Giles was passing out cigars. “They’re not going to smoke those in the house are they?”

Elizabeth glanced back too. “Not if they know what’s good for them.”

William looked up from his spot from across the room and smirked at his fiancée and soon to be mother in law. He raised his eyebrows at Elizabeth before he returned to his conversation with Xander. There was a definite advantage to being a vampire now. His girl would have a hard time plotting without him knowing.

Anya looked up when Joyce entered the dining room. “Tell us all about the orgasms.”

“Anya, not in front of Dawn,” Joyce gasped.

“Oh come on, Mom. It’s not like I thought you played checkers.” Dawn rolled her eyes.

In a diplomatic manner, Elizabeth said, “Just tell us what you want to, Mother.”

“Rich and I went to Las Vegas. Then, we got married, had a short honeymoon, and rushed home before any of you could destroy the town.”

“Hey,” Elizabeth said loudly. “We haven’t burned anything major down lately.”

“It’s something to shoot for when we battle the Mayor and his pet vamp,” Illyria replied.

Elizabeth groaned. “Please, don’t jinx us.”

The other ladies laughed before they started to gossip

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Angelus rubbed his hands together in anticipation. He would be the Master of Sunnydale if it was the last thing he did. He’d left his newest fledgling back on the boat. Now that he was where he wanted, he’d be getting rid of the flotsam. “Where to start?” he muttered.

Warren Meers marched down the street while muttering under his breath. “Stupid fucking assholes. I paid them good money to get rid of that bitch.”

Angelus licked his lips when he saw the young human. The face was vaguely familiar, but the vampire didn’t really care to pursue the reason. “Dinner is served,” he chortled softly as he started to follow the distracted human.

“If you want a job done, you just have to do it yourself.” Meers stopped at the entrance to a dark alley. At the back of the passage was a place called The Holder’s Abode. The owner, a magician named Rack, owed Meers a favor or two. Warren glanced around, but the street was clear except for one man staring into a store front half way down the block. He stepped into the dark alleyway.

Angelus had no idea why the human was entering the dark alley, and frankly, he didn’t really give a damn. It just made the meal all that easier to catch. Using supernatural speed, Angelus raced towards the shadowed blackness.

Warren felt something behind him, but before he could react he was slammed into the wall. He let out a guttural groan when he felt the bones in his face crush against the bricks. Then, there was a burning in his neck that he couldn’t explain, and a cold, dead weight pushing against him. Warren’s last thoughts were filled with confusion.

Angelus dropped the drained body on the ground, and he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “That hit the spot. Now to find the Slayer and that worthless fledge.” He strolled out onto the street, one appetite temporarily sated.

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“I thought the party went well,” Elizabeth said. She linked her arm with William’s. They looked like a young couple out for a moonlight stroll, but the denizens of evil knew better. This was the Slayer and her vampire stalking the night looking for something to kill.

William gave a disdainful sniff. “I suppose. Just don’t expect to smash cake on my face when the time comes, Slayer.”

Elizabeth chuckled. “But, sweetie, that’s the best part.” She gave William a playful punch on the bicep when they turned the corner to the street that led to the waterfront. “It’ll make a lovely picture to show our children someday.”

“Pet, I’m a vamp now.” William rolled his eyes. “Father says that they cannot have children.”

“You really think that’s going to stop me from having your babies?”

William threw back his head with a laugh. “Well, my Queen Slayer, if there’s anyone able to figure out how, it’ll be you.” His eyesight slid past Elizabeth to the boats on the water. He tilted his head, and he pointed towards a specific ship. “Isn’t that the boat that Wes and Lyrie put Angelus on?”

Elizabeth turned around to look where William pointed. “I think so. That can’t be good, can it?”

William shook his head.

Elizabeth sighed. “I suppose we better go check it out then. A Slayer’s work is never done.”

“No need.” A handsome dark-haired man wearing a black stocking cap and a pea-coat over dark clothes stepped out of the nearby shadows. “I made sure all the passengers and crew the creature killed were really dead and not turned into vampires.”

William could hear a distinct lack of a heartbeat coming from the other man. “What about you, mate? Plannin’ on stakin’ yourself?”

“That would be a sin,” the man said in a worried voice.

“Are we breeding a different kind of vampire these days?” Elizabeth asked in confused voice. “I mean we pretty much know why you’re different, William, but that doesn’t explain Alonna and…” She looked at the new guy.

“Lawson. Sam Lawson.” Sam ducked his head at the pretty blond.

“Why are Alonna and Sam so different than the other vamps we run across?”

William shook his head. “Something for Father and the gang to research, I suppose.”

“So you’re not going to stake me?” Lawson sounded sad at the prospect of continued life.

“Not this time,” Elizabeth said. “But as the Slayer, I’m allowed to change my mind. We need to go warn the gang that Angelus is back in town. Giles needs to contact the Council to let them know their package escaped, and I’m planning on dusting the bastard.”

William gave Elizabeth a heated look. “You swore, pet. You know what that does to me.”

“Down, boy. We still have two weeks until the wedding.” Elizabeth patted William’s shoulder. “Come on, Sam. We’ll fill you in on life in Sunnydale on the way to the Magic Box.”