by melWinter

Chapter 16

London, England

Rupert Giles by nature liked his world very orderly. Neat, clean, and organized...in stark contrast to the Chaos following, hell-raising, magic addicted boy that he used to be. But for the most part he’d been a disillusioned young man and he’d left it behind to become a Watcher and a protector of the human race. But the state of his office these days might see a hint to Chaos and to Ripper.

What spaces along his walls that weren’t bookshelves were covered with maps of different areas of the world with all manner of markings, pictures, data...useless junk that was just driving him mad. He was the head of the damn Council but he felt out of the loop. What information he was getting was second and third hand and it was starting to bloody well piss him off. Moving to the old chalkboard with a frown, he picked up chalk and did a quick tally. He scrolled the number 32 in the upper left hand corner. Thirty-two girls, many of them young, many more not that had died in the past eighteen months. The list of causes he detailed in the right. All manner of demons from all parts of the world. None of them with clan ties. Four of them random, newly turned vampires from cemeteries. It didn’t make sense. These were careless mistakes.

He glanced down at the list of names and scanned them before deciding to add them up. He wrote the number in the lower left hand corner and froze. Twelve, “Finally catching a clue I see.” He spun around in surprise, looking over his glasses before blinking as a very familiar vampire moved out of the shadows and slowly over to the chalkboard. She crossed her arms to study it before nodding and giving him a grim smirk, “You’re starting to see it, don’t you?”

Removing his glasses to carefully polish them, “And just what am I supposed to be seeing-...”

The spectacles were suddenly out of his hands and in her’s, she looking at them for just a moment before carefully placing them back on his nose and turning his head lightly in the direction of the chalkboard, “Can’t see without those, now can we? So many slayers dying and so few replacing them...worrisome, isn’t it?”

He blinked slowly, “I’m certain we’ve just...er, missed a few is all.”

She sniffed to herself before shrugging, “Perhaps.” Walking around the office slowly, finger lightly gliding along the edge of a bookcase before casually finding a seat, “Or perhaps you’re missing the big picture...like usual.”

Giles silently studied her for a moment. A vampiress he’d known for most of his life. Since before the Council at any rate and one who’s motives he’d never quite understood. When he’d been a follower of Chaos with Ethan, she’d pop in unannounced and point him in the right direction before vanishing again. It’s how he’d found his way to the Council. But then she’d appeared in his life again. She worked for the Council when it suited her, a fact which had surprised him considering the old Council’s opinion concerning demons. In fact she’d worked as his eyes on Los Angeles after the apocalypse mysteriously reverted itself, her sending what information and pictures she could gather to Willow. Then one evening she’d sent him a single letter cutting her ties and vanished.

He took her sitting as an invitation and sat slowly behind his desk, “The big picture?”

She smirked to herself, “Yes...you’ve been afforded some rare opportunities in your lifetime, Rupert Giles, but you never fully appreciate them until they slip through your fingers.”

Frowning and reaching for a cool cup of tea, “I fail to see-...”

“You were gifted with one of the greatest Slayers that ever walked this earth.” Giles froze. She’d never met Buffy, “A girl with enough spirit to survive nearly anything and instead of helping her grow...you tried to hold her back.”

The cup in his hand rattled as he shook slightly, “I never-...”

She was suddenly leaning over him, sitting over his desk and nose to nose with him. Never had he seen a vampire move so quickly, “Who packed her silly little head with all those lies about vampires and demons? Who limited her potential with crude, human hunting styles instead of using her vicious nature to her advantage? Did you even try to teach her anything or did you just point her in the direction of the next kill and send her on her way?”

Giles shot to his feet angrily, “If you’d ever met Buffy you would realize teaching her anything is as redundant as teaching a penguin to fly.”

Her lip twitched before she nodded slowly, “I can see that.” She moved away swiftly and back to her seat.

Shaking his head as he sat down wearily, pinching the bridge of his nose, “What do you want, Evil?” She loved her riddles and her mysteries, life but one long game to her. Bloody hell, she was more aggravating than Spike had ever been.

Evil stretched out languidly, arms on the arm rest and finger tips touching one another before her as she stared at them, “I didn’t realize the Council had turned mercenary.”

Ah, so that was her game. She wasn’t pleased with the Council’s association with EDS Corp, nicknamed the Corporation. He’d come to think of them as a clean up crew since they willingly provided all the weapons his slayers could ever need in exchange for a capture before killing policy to the demons they encounter. So long as they didn’t release the damned creatures later what did it matter to him? For one brief moment, his mind shifted to Spike and what would have happened to him if the Corporation had gotten to him instead of the Initiative but he dismissed the thought. The past. Done with. Forgotten and gone. He’d misjudged him, he could admit that now. But with the vampire now deceased there was no point in continuing to regret what couldn’t be changed.

“I like to think of them-...”

“Your pimp?” His eyes widened and he sputtered as he flushed red. She just shrugged, “What? You’ve sold yourself to the highest bidder. You’re a whore. They just pay in technology instead of money.” She smirked to herself, “Love to see what happens if you ever try to leave them.”

Hissing at her, equilibrium restored, “Get out.”

“Oh, I will...just one thing first...” It was the ominous tone that froze him. This was her purpose. In fact, anytime she ever appeared she always had a purpose but there was something different. Almost resigned, perhaps sad, “You might remember a small gathering of werewolves you recovered not terribly long ago...then again you might not. But I’m sure you do remember allowing one of them to die.” Giles stiffened. Of course he remembered. With the demon treaty void the girls were on a constant state of alert for a demon brave enough, strong enough, or dumb enough to attack. And the day that Buffy had made it all too clear of her betrayal to her calling, “I’ve come to inform you to get your affairs in order.”

He went chalk white as he stared at the vampiress who had yet to look at him again. So, the Alpha had decreed his death. Nodding, “Thank you for telling me.”

She looked up then, her eyes golden with rage, “Oh, he hasn’t ordered anything yet. In fact I’m fairly certain he’ll delay that decision as long as he can if only to keep from going to war with you. But within two years you will die, Rupert Giles...one way or another.” He’d never felt enough threat from her presence to be wary but he desperately wished for a stake or cross right about now. Her voice crooned to him, “Even if by Alpha decree you live, you die.” Her fangs slowly lengthened as the gold in her eyes darkened, “She was my daughter you ignorant little fool, do you really think I won’t kill you for that?” His eyes widened. Her what?? She sneered around her fangs, “You of all people remember what happened the last time one of your own foolishly killed one of mine.”

Her mate. Yes, he remembered it well. The Council had a branch in Athens that dared to kill her werewolf mate. She’d torn them to pieces. Every watcher there and the next three slayers that were called to deal with the situation. Quinton Trevors had personally signed a cease fire agreement with her just to end the death count...which was extensive.

“I-...I didn’t-...”

Smiling with deadly sweetness, “Oh, I know it wasn’t your intent. Just a mistake...that’s why I’m giving you a grace period...for old times sake. Unfortunately for her, the little bitch responsible received no such reprieve. They should be finding her body any time now.” There was a sudden scream that tore through the hall and Evil slowly smirked. He didn’t even want to image what she had done, knowing by reputation what this vampiress was capable of. Between her killing skills and her craft there really wasn’t anything anyone could do. He swallowed slowly and she suddenly blinked to herself, inspired, “However.” She pointed to the area above his desk and a script of parchment appeared and floated down lightly on top of the piles of paperwork and reports, “You should use the time wisely... might I suggest uncovering a long lost treasure.” With a evilly childish laugh she disappeared.