FROG CITY
» LIBRARY » Fanfiction & poetry »
"Graves" Chapters 1-3
BTVS FANFICTION & POETRY
GRAVES
Chapter 1-3
Chapters 4-6 ¦ Chapter 7 ¦ Chapters 8-10 ¦ Chapters 11-13 ¦ Chapters 14 ¦ Chapters 15-17
Written by: Chip (cmcconnell@lanvision.com)
Disclaimer: Story copyrighted by Chip (cmcconnell@lanvision.com). "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and the characters herein are the property of Mutant Enemy, Joss Whedon, Kuzui enterprises, Warner Brothers, and all other owners of the rights to "Buffy".
Chapter One
"Masked Man"
"Uhhnnn".
The kick forced the air out of Buffy's lungs. She hit the ground hard, not having time to fall "correctly" as Giles had taught her, what, a hundred years ago?
Buffy rolled to her hands and knees and glanced up. The air left her lungs again, but for a different reason. She had fallen by a gravestone. The name read "Sommers".
"Wrong spelling." she said to herself. "No relation."
She felt that familiar "tingling" again. From her hands and knees she kicked backward and upward with her right leg. Hard. She felt flesh that wasn't, even through her Keds. She snapped up to see the vamp clutching his crushed windpipe.
"They don't breathe so they don't need it." Buffy thought. "He'll recover and be back soon."
"Sommers/Summers," a small voice said in her head. She shook it violently.
She saw Oz riding the back of the biggest vampire, desperately trying to stab him with a stake. It was difficult because the vamp had Willow by the wrists so Oz couldn't get a good swing without hitting Willow.
Xander was sitting on the only female vamp in the group they had encountered. She was trying to stop him from driving the stake into her chest. Xander pushed hard. Buffy looked away, but heard the "woosh" and felt the heat. For some reason, when a vamp got killed within a couple of yards she felt heat for a moment, like an oven door opening.
Giles was fending off the "leader" of the group. He had expertly cut the vamps arms off with that sword he brought with him. The vamp was trying to kick Giles, but he just moved away and slashed again. It would have been comical, had it not been for the large gash in Giles shoulder. How'd that happen?
Buffy's observations took a split second. Mr. Crushed Larynx was charging back. Buffy spin-kicked him twice. A stake lay on the ground a few feet from her. A roll, a flip a rush of heat.
A car squealed to a stop in front of the cemetery. Five more vamps piled out, screaming and charging.
"Sommers/Summers..."
"This is quite irregular." a familiar English voiced said. "Vampires are generally very cliquish. They don't often band together like this."
"Company's here, Giles." Buffy quipped. "Let's turn out the lights and pretend we're not home."
The first vampire tackled Buffy, but she was ready. She rolled with him and kicked him off. The second was right behind him. She spun and poised with her stake.
"Woosh!"
She gave a puzzled look at the stake. She hadn't stabbed him. Where'd he go? She glanced around. The new vamps were "dusting" in quick succession.
"Woosh, woosh, woosh..."
As if some invisible stake was dusting them one by one, in quick, very quick, succession.
Within a three seconds, all of the vamps were gone. The only sound was the distant idling of the vampires' car in the street.
A flash caught Buffy's eye. A red dot 70 yards away. A man clad in black nearly hidden by the overhanging branches of a tree turned and sat in the air. Another red light, the taillight of a motorcycle, then the muffled roar as it started. The man turned in his seat to her, she couldn't see his face clearly, but the half moon showed that his hair looked dark blond, slicked back and he was wearing sunglasses. At night? Corey Hart?
"And he's smiling at me?" Buffy wondered.
The man disappeared, she heard the bike go through three gears, then, gone.
Everyone slowly gathered around Buffy, rubbing shoulders, touching wounds. Oz helped a limping Willow to a nearby bench.
"Who was that masked man?" Xander asked.
"Indeed," Giles said. "It seems we have an unknown benefactor, of sorts."
"I don't know who he is, but I'm going to find out." Buffy began to move towards where he had been.
"Umm, perhaps, " Giles said as he touched Buffy's shoulder. "We should return to the library and tend to ourselves."
"Yeah, I'm in for a little wound-licking," Xander grimaced as he rubbed his shoulder. "Ow!" The pain hadn't come from his shoulder but from his ankle where Willow had kicked him with her good foot.
"What?" he mimed to her. She gestured with her head towards Oz and gave him that "You insensitive mega-goober!" look.
He made a disgusted face at her. Oz wasn't as sensitive to dog references as she was. Besides, it was a fringe reference, not a put-down reference.
"Xander, are you well enough to drive the vampires car to the police station?" Giles asked.
"Sure, I'll drop it off. I know the drill."
"The drill" was dropping the car off near enough to the police station to be found but not so near as to be seen dropping it off. Wipe your fingerprints off of everything. Leave no trace. The vamps probably stole the car and if it's linked back to you it could be trouble. Xander would have just left it running in the street, but Giles had this thing about returning it to it's proper owner.
Oz helped Willow to his van as Giles moved to his Citroen. Giles shoulder was still bleeding so Buffy would have to drive him. She turned back to where the man had been. The she saw that gravestone again.
"Sommers/Summers..."
Chapter Two
"Back in Black"
"It had been three days since the stranger on the motorcycle had helped at the graveyard. Everybody was healing nicely. Willows' ankle was only slightly turned and she took the ace bandage off this morning. Xander was still trying to get sympathy mileage form his hurt shoulder, but got busted by Buffy playing a game of pick-up b-ball yesterday. Giles had to have four stitches in his shoulder. He was stiff and sore, but he'd had much worse.
Giles had called them all to the library that night. He wasn't there when they arrived. Willow sat next to Oz with her head on his shoulder, his arm around her. Buffy sat on the counter, twirling a letter opener in her hand. Xander, as usual, paced.
"He said be here at eight, right?" Xander looked at Buffy.
"What? I'm not his mother."
"It's ten after," Xander said, looking at his watch. "He's late."
"Looks like that two years you spent in second grade didn't go to waste," Buffy returned.
Willow smirked, "I'm sure he's all right." she said. "He's just..."
The doors burst open and Giles flustered in taking off his topcoat, "I'm sorry I'm late, the batteries were low in the torch."
"...coming in as we speak," Willow finished.
"Torch?" Xander asked. "Were you chasing Frankenstein with the rest of the villagers?"
"What? No, no, no, no," Giles said annoyed. "I was looking for something in the graveyard. Where we fought the vampires the other night."
"I was being facetious," Xander said.
"Oooh, facetious!" Buffy, Willow and Oz said in unison.
"I've used that word lots of times before!" Xander said, trying to recover.
"Uh, uh, please." Giles continued. He began making tea on his little hotplate. "I got to thinking about our strange visitor the other night. I did some checking."
"What'd you find?" Oz asked.
"Not much." Giles wiped his hands on a nearby linen towel. "He was indeed riding a motorcycle. I believe, from the tire tracks, it's a Yamaha. Most likely a V-Max."
"You can tell what kind of bike it was from the tracks?" Xander asked, surprised.
"Sometimes." The tea whistled. Giles continued as he poured. "Certain motorcycles require certain kinds of tires. Larger tread tires for motocross, fatter tires for cruisers, that sort of thing. Motorcycle manufacturers favor certain brand tires that have distinctive tread patterns as well. The V-Max is a niche motorcycle, sometimes called a standard. It's fast like a sportbike, but you sit more upright." He looked up from stirring his two sugars in his tea to a quartet of slack jaws. "I was in a, uh, motorcycle club, so to speak. In my youth."
"Did you find anything else?" Buffy slid from the counter and took a seat at the table where Oz and Willow sat.
"Yes, indeed I did." Giles reached into his pocket and laid three small pieces of wood on the table. Each piece was about three inches long and a quarter of an inch in diameter. The front tapered to a point. Buffy picked one up and examined it.
"Putt-putt pencils without the lead?"
"Toothpick for Ernest Borgnine?" Xander said, picking one up as well.
"Stakes." Giles said, sipping his tea.
"Stakes, for who, Barbie and Ken vampires?" Oz joked.
"No." Giles laid his cup and saucer on the table and picked up the remaining stake. "They were used as projectiles, fired from some kind of gun, I imagine. Given the distance he was at. If you roll them in your fingers, you can feel the rifling.
"I didn't hear any gunshots." Willow said. "How'd he fire them? They're too small for a crossbow."
"You're quite right, Willow." Giles put down the wood and picked up his tea cup by the saucer. "Besides, a crossbow would have to have an amazing amount of tension to propel it that distance and accuracy would suffer as well."
"Accuracy," Oz sat up in his chair. "Yeah, just before the vamp I was piggy-back riding got dusted, I saw a small red dot of light on his chest."
"Laser sight," Buffy concluded.
"Yes, of course." Giles agreed. "And since there was nothing to indicate that the projectile was propelled by conventional means, like a bullet is, the only other conclusion would be something along the lines of compressed gas or perhaps magnetism."
"Magnetism, on wood?" Xander mocked.
"Of course not," Giles chided. "The wood may have metal particles imbedded in it. Or perhaps the projectile is placed in a tube and the tube is magnetized and hurled down to the end of the barrel of a gun and the stake is flung out, similar to a crossbow."
"Ok, ok," Xander interrupted. "So this guy has a state-of-the-art crossbow thingy and he kills vamps with it. Why? And what's he doing here? An outsider coming in to help? I'm thinking, sheeyah, right!"
"And more importantly," Buffy said, concentrating on the mini-stake as she twirled it in her fingers, "Who is he?"
"I can answer that."
A collective gasp rose from the table. Startled, Giles spilled his tea, but saved his cup and saucer from dropping to the floor. They turned towards the library doors. A man stood there. He was about six foot tall. His hair was dark blond and slicked back. He was clad in a black leather biker jacket, black jeans and black shoes. He was wearing sunglasses. Next to the man sat a large dog. It looked like a German Shepherd, but not.
"How did you...where...who..." Giles stammered.
Buffy started up from her chair, poising defensively. She hadn't heard him come in. That is impossible. She hears everything. She instinctively knows when someone enters a room she's in. Even when she's asleep. How could she have not heard him? Felt his presence?
He took his sunglasses off and smiled. He looked at Giles then at Buffy, "Uh, sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."
"We weren't scared," Xander said, still trying to catch his breath. "Just a little surprised."
"I was," Willow said.
"Me too, to the point of needing cleanup." Oz said.
At the sound of Oz's voice the dog walked over to his chair. His nails making a clicking sound on the hardwood floor as he stepped. He stopped in front of Oz and sat down. The dog was so big, he was looking directly into Oz's eyes. Oz and Willow leaned back. The dog laid down at Oz's feet with a grunt.
"Looks like you found a buddy," the man said to Oz. "Don't worry, he won't bite you. Just don't sing the Barney song , though. He hates that."
The looks went from fright, to surprise to astonishment.
"I'm kidding! I am such a kidder!" the man's voice took on a Yiddish accent. Then he laughed. He walked to Giles and extended a gloved right hand.
"Rupert Giles! I've heard a lot about you. You've got quite a rep!"
"I...I...uh, thank you." Giles said, weakly shaking the man's hand.
"Let's see if I can remember. Xander, Oz, Willow and of course," his voice changed again. He sounded like a game show host. "And, of course, the one, the only, our favorite slayer and yours, Buffy Summers!"
"Sommers/Summers..."
"Who the hell are you?" Buffy said through tight lips, her eyes narrowing.
The man ignored her obvious distrust. But it didn't go unnoticed.
"Name, what's in a name? Well, usually letters! Sorry, ooh, ow, that one was so bad it hurt."
No one could think of anything to say. They just stared.
"Okay. I'll get to the point." He took off his right glove. He reached into the left hand pocket of his jacket with his gloved left hand and pulled out a small, flat plastic square. He began walking towards Willow.
"This DVD contains everything you need to know about me, about why I'm here and about what's going on."
As he approached her, Willow felt her face getting hotter and hotter. He gently took her left hand in his ungloved right hand. She looked into his face. She felt flushed, like that night with Oz. He placed the DVD in her hand. Willow looked up into his face. For a moment, just a moment, it seemed very sad. And very familiar. He turned swiftly, replacing the glove on his hand and walked towards the door. The dog sat up, sniffed near Oz's face and clicked across the floor after him.
"Um, excuse me, Fonzie," Xander said, sarcastically.
The man turned to Xander, smiled and put his sunglasses back on. "Oh, yeah, my name. Let's see. Hey, how about this? Since we met in a graveyard, how about Elvis?" His voice changed again, "Thank you, thank you very much."
Again, they just stared.
"Ok, it's on the DVD. Mr. Graves."
"And your little dog too?" Oz said warily.
"Oh yeah. His name is Shaman. And he's not a dog. He's a wolf. See ya!"
He turned and strode out of the library, the clicking of the dogs nails fading. Buffy watched him leave, still tense. Not until she heard the bike roar off did she relax. A little.
"Sommers/Summers..."
Xander broke the long silence. "That, including all the things that have ever come out of the Hellmouth and Jerry Springer, is the weirdest thing I have ever seen."
"Yeah, it's got the Lesbian Biker Babe Accountants episode beat hands down." Oz said. "And what's with that dog."
"It's not a dog," Buffy turned to Oz, her face still tight. "It's a wolf. Giles, do you know this guy?"
"No, I've never seen him before in my life. But he does appear to be legitimate."
"A legitimate what?" Xander asked, "Jim Carey of the undead?"
"Oh, he's not undead. He's human. We'll know more once we view the DVD. Willow, would you be so kind as to set it up? Willow? Willow?"
"Oh, yes, uh, sure, Giles." Willow snapped from her trance.
"Did he hurt you?" Buffy asked concerned.
"Hurt, no, no not at all. He would never hurt me. I mean, not with everyone here and stuff. Oz, could you do this, I have to talk to Buffy?" She handed Oz the DVD, grabbed Buffy by the shoulder and started out of the library.
"Sure. Be happy to." Oz said to Willow's back.
Chapter Three
"Is Norman Home?"
"Are you okay?" Buffy asked Willow again. "That guy gave you some major creepage."
"No, I'm fine," Willow replied, her voice pitching higher.
"Really?"
"Really, yes, really."
"Then why are we in the hallway not talking about what you wanted to talk to me."
"Huh, oh, well, gee. I just needed some fresh air."
"And you needed me for that?"
"Um, yes. It's like the bathroom thing. You know, we girls go to the bathroom together, get fresh air together..."
"Fresh air together inside the building?"
"Um, sure. Fresh recycled air. Ooh, darn." Willow turned away, embarrassed.
"What is wrong, Willow?" Buffy gently turned her towards her.
"I...I had that feeling, when he touched me. You know, the feeling!" She was almost in tears.
"Feeling? What are you talking abou...the feeling?" Buffy looked at Willow astonished.
"Yes, but it wasn't, you know, dirty. It was, nice...er. Almost familiar."
Buffy looked into Willows' eyes. She was disturbed, but not frightened.
"It's ready," Oz poked his head out through the doors.
Buffy looked at Willow. "Don't worry." She turned and walked passed Oz, touching his shoulder. Oz turned to go back into the library.
"Oz," Willow said softly.
Oz stepped into the hallway. Willow put her arms around him tightly and buried her head in his shoulder. The quickest way to a man's heart.
Back in the library, Giles, Buffy and Xander stared intently at the computer screen. Graves image appeared.
"Good evening, Mr. Phelps. Your mission, should you decide to accept it...Sorry. I always wanted to do that."
Oz and Willow arrived. "Did he do the Mission Impossible thing?" Oz asked.
"First words out of his mouth," Xander said.
"Ok, but seriously folks," Graves continued. "By now you know me and Shaman and I know you. I also know about Angel and Cordelia and the other watcher stiff upper lip, Wesley. The whole Scooby gang."
"How did he know..." Xander whispered.
"I know about the Hellmouth, the mayor, Faith, etctera, etcetera, etcetera," his voice changed to a very bad imitation of Yul Brenner.
"You've probably noticed an increase in the vampire activity. They're becoming bolder and more numerous. They normally are very cliquish, they're leader being the one that turned them. However, recently they are banding together under a single, unknown leader."
Buffy shuddered, her knees weakening. Xander, standing behind her, put his hands on her shoulders and leaned forward. "I'm sure it's not him." He whispered.
"No, it's not the Master, Buffy." Graves said solemnly. "It's someone or something else. Something called Talus. I have some info but it's sketchy and requires translation." That's where I can use your help."
"Our help, indeed." Giles said.
"I bought the Winford House on, where else, Winford Court," the video continued. "I think I found Norman Bates mom. No really, I've refurbished it and added a few things. An underground garage, a gym and a state-of-the-art computer network complete with satellite access. Ahh, the simple life."
"I'm inviting you all up for a little house warming this weekend. Saturday at eight. I'll share what I do have and let you know then what I need from you. As for who I am, I sort of lied about that. I think we should get to know each other gradually, not rush into this relationship. I've, I've been hurt so many times," Graves was mockingly crying, rubbing his eyes. "Sorry, I get so emotional. See you Saturday. B'bye."
The video went off.
"Wow, that guy is a toy short of a Happy Meal," Oz offered.
"Well, it looks like I need to get my party dress out of mothballs," Buffy said.
"You're not really going to go?" Xander asked, looking from Buffy to Giles. "I mean, he's, he's not right."
"Oh, I don't believe he's dangerous," Giles said adjusting his glasses. "Just, ah, eccentric."
"I think we should be careful," Buffy said. "I'm not sure I trust him."
"I don't," Oz said. He pulled Willow tighter to him.
Turn the page
|
|
![[Welcome to Frog City: An Almighty Hanniganites Page]](wtfcaly1.gif)
![[Airport link image]](wtfcheadair1.gif){kind=small}
![[Amusement Park Link image]](wtfcheadap1.gif){kind=small}
![[Construction Headquarters Link image]](wtfcheadcon1.gif){kind=small}
![[Green House Link image]](wtfcheadgh1.gif){kind=small}
![[Hanniganite House Link image]](wtfcheadhh1.gif){kind=small}
![[Library Link image]](wtfcheadly1.gif){kind=small}
![[You are here at the Library]](wtfcv4d4a.gif)
» ![[TV Station Link image]](wtfcheadtv1.gif){kind=small}
![[Theatre Link image]](wtfcheadth1.gif){kind=small}
