Chapter 1
The moonlight dripped through the trees upon the ground around the cemetery. Fluffy sat at the foot of a tree where her friend Ash sat with her opened text book.
"The difference between slaying and school is not very different. In the past year I've had my fill of both." she said sharpening the edge of her stake.
"Fluffy, if we don't get these lessons right you won't be able to graduate with us at the end of the year." explained Ash. "and I'm sure you don't want to hang around here during the summer."
Fluffy stood and paced around the blanket where Ash sat. "It's just that, it's not like I can cram for a test on this." said Fluffy. "There is this whole destiny thing. It's a lot of pressure." At that moment a vampire lunged from behind the tree to get Ash, but Fluffy was too quick. She spun quickly and drove her stake in its heart as though it was the most natural thing in the world and didn't even miss a beat in their conversation. "I mean really, what if I hadn't done that just now."
Ash just sat in wide eyed awe at her friend who had speed agility so far advanced from her own. She almost felt envious that she didn't have that power. "Well, you wouldn't have the dust on your boot." she said as Fluffy kicked her boot against the tree knocking the dust off.
"Dust comes off, but this is something I have to do all the time." Fluffy reminded her. "I may have to do this forever, and there is always the possibility I may die."
Ash hadn't really thought about that possibility. For the past few months that Fluffy had been in Sunningdale was the most fun Ash had had in years. She felt important in a way.
"You won't die, Fluffy." Ash reassured her. "I mean really, think about it, how often do Slayers die." Fluffy looked at her friend in disbelief. Of all she had researched for Farmer, she hadn't looked up the fact that slayers die often, so often they reality reach their 21 birthday.
"Well let me put it this way." Fluffy said. "The current Slayer has died 2 times." Ash's eye bulged
"Twice! The same slayer!" Ash exclaimed.
"Yep, but I think I have her beat on Watchers." Fluffy said importantly, even though she knew that that was not something to be proud of.
"Well, you have got a good one this time."
Fluffy sat next to her on the blanket. "Well, what do we really know about Farmer?"
"He's American,"
"That's one." Fluffy said.
"He's persistent. I mean really. You've gotten a lot better at slaying since he's been here." Fluffy reluctantly nodded. Ash was right. She would probably be more likely to stake herself when she started, but Farmer with his work ethic had taught her a lot about slaying.
"Well I taught myself a lot too." Fluffy said triumphantly.
Mean while back in his lair Count Van Whedon was counting the heads of Vampires having returned from their hunt.
"Three!" he said in anguish. "Three we have lost in the past 2 nights! This will not do!"
"What shall we do master." said Lily coolly.
"Ah, my young one, so ambitious. I knew we needed some fresh blood in this family." He said looking around at the other vampires in disgust. "What we need is some new blood." Lily smiled, her new teeth shining. "and I have the perfect beginning for who this new blood shall be."
"The Slayer!" said Rachel. The Count beamed with pride.
"Ah, the excitement of the hunt, but no my dear, we will start small." The other listened to his every word. "We will get the Slayer's Watcher. Without him she will have no direction, and she will be weak to our attack." The vampires smiled and laughed at the idea of catching the Slayer's watcher.
"Master," said Rachel. "How do you suggest we capture the watcher?"
"Don't worry my pet, I have a plan." said the Count deviously and softly stroked the young vampire's cheek. "It will not be easy, but we must capture the watcher."
"But how master." said another vampire. "With bait, we must have something he wants. And I have just the thing." From his pocket the Count removed a letter, rumpled and soiled. He unfolded it. "Dear Uncle Ted, mother has approved my coming to visit you in England for a week. Please come and pick me up at the air port Friday evening on the 5th. I can't wait to see you again, Molly."
"The watcher's niece!" cooed Lily, "Delicious!"
"Perfect" Praised Rachel
"Yes, I know." said the Count. "So, we must prepare, and we will kidnap the child."
