(no subject)
I was born into this life. My father was a watcher, my grandfather was a watcher. It was with me that the council decided to put a new type of training to the student that showed the most potential. I was sent almost three years ago to be under the tutelage of Raymond Hermire. I was to study his practices with the current slayer of the time, Claire Currell.
When I went to Cleveland I was awkward and barely capable of doing anything except for spouting facts. With Ray's and Claire's assistance I gained the knowledge that I required to aid a future slayer in all facets of killing and destroying all forms of evil that attacked humankind. I never figured that things would change, that soon I would be left alone. Claire and Ray became like a second family to me... a family that I had never had of my own.
Word reached the three of us that a master vampire was about to arise from the Hellmouth. Ray found a prophecy that it would end with the death of Claire. I refused to accept the prophecy. I felt that Claire was way too strong of a slayer to be defeated.
The three of us left the house and entered where the harvest of the master was to take place. We had waited to long and the master had already been resurrected from the hellmouth. Ray was the first to die. One of the stronger of the master's minions drained him before Claire or I were able to get to him. I think that is when Claire knew that she was to die that night.
She fought with everything that she had. I was armed with a crossbow and continued to fight along side her. She was able to kill the master, but as she staked him she was grabbed from behind. I was being held by one of the vampires. There was nothing I could do. She was nearly drained... drained to the point of death when the vampire let her go. His companion let me go as her body fell to the ground. I did nothing. The two vampires left and I gathered Claire in my arms. She smiled weakly and said, "Guess you'll be a real watcher after all Wes." I held her body as she breathed her last breath on this earth.
After taking care of both Claire's and Ray's bodies I set out to find the two vampires. I found them in a nearby bar, they never knew what hit them as I double staked them both at the same time.
I contacted the council and gave them my resignation that very night. That was the last I heard from them until my father came to me three days ago.
He found me in a cemetary taking out a few vampires. After I had dusted the last I heard clapping behind me. I whirled around and he was standing before me. "Very well done boy. Too bad you couldn't have done that before Miss Currell's body hit the ground."
I glared at my father. "Yes, it is too bad, Father. What do you want?" I placed the stake that I had used back in the pocket of my overcoat.
"The council has come here for me to try and convince you to come back. There is a slayer who is without a watcher now. They want you to be her watcher." He told me with a rigid expression, as if it pained him to tell me that the council needed me.
"Well, Father, you came all the way here for nothing. I am not interested, which, I am sure pleases you immensely." I surveyed the area, making sure there were no other threats about.
"Boy! Listen to me now, all of the council are too old to do such a duty. There are no young ones that have as much experience as you. This is against my judgement, them choosing you of course, but it's how it is. Now, you must leave on a plane for Sunnydale California. That is where the current slayer, Faith Hanley is headed."
I snorted. "That sounds like that is your problem and the council's problem."
He walked up to me and grabbed my arms. "Stop being so selfish son. I am sure that the council will find a replacement as soon as they can, but for now you must go. Think of Raymond and Claire. Don't you think they would want you to take this chance?"
I shrugged my shoulders to get out of his grip. "Do not speak their names to me." My eyes burned and I swallowed a lump in my throat. "Fine then, as long as this position is only temporary."
He nodded and stated, "Surely."
I walked with him to the car that he had. He gave me a plane ticket and the information that I would need. Without another word to him I left and gathered up my belongings and went to the airport.
The sun was setting when the plane landed in Sunnydale. I pulled out the packet of information Father had given me and took out the car keys to the car that was waiting for me in the short term parking lot. By the time I put my bags inside the house that I would soon share with Miss Hanley it was full on dark.
I changed into jean trousers, a t-shirt, and a black leather jacket. I put a few small weapons into the jacket pocket and walked off to the closest cemetary... hoping that I would find the slayer. It wasn't long before I walked into a clearing to hear a fight going on somewhere nearby. I went through a patch a brush to watch a petite dark haired girl battling it out with three vampires. Her style was brutal and effective, a bit raw but she was getting the job done. I stood under the cover of a large oak tree waiting, if the fight turned sour I would intervene.
It wasn't long before the fight had ended. The slayer dusted off her hands and put her stake in the back of her leather pants.
I came out from the woods and said, "Faith? Faith Hanley?" Wild eyes were turned towards me. A fire burned in them that was astonishing to see. That same fire that I would see in Claire's eyes after she did battle. Hopefully I wouldn't be here that long. This life wasn't for me anymore.