Plymslayer RPG Boards: Carlisle game one.

(Played 14/10/01 - )

Disclaimer:  The Characters in this game belong to the people who created them.  The basic premise of slayers, watchers etc comes from Joss Whedon.  We’re only borrowing it, we make no claims on it.

Rated R for Violence, occasional bad language and angst.

If you like what you read, why not drop us an email feedback@plymslayer.com or leave a note on the Plymslayer board.  As always, we are looking for more players for our other cities.

Dolph, Evilandrea and Tinyclanger.

Characters:

Amanda Johnson, Slayer -Tinyclanger

Clayton Johnson, Watcher- Dolph

Simon John Ritchie, Member of the Scooby Gang/Turbonutter, - Sid Vicious

Wodroff Pepek, mage-Gabriel

Selwin -Kasper

Kanyk -Deathwish direwolf

Travis Andrew Thompson, Demon Knight –DemonKnight

The Story:

In the beginning…

Amanda and Clayton were summoned by the Watchers council about a month ago to set up base in Carlisle. There had been an increase in weird goings on, perhaps due to an unconfirmed Hellmouth.

Once in Carlisle Clayton took up the position of Head Curator of the historic collections within the castle. Amanda on the other hand has been working as a volunteer at the local animal sanctuary (well everyone needs a day job).

In Carlisle Clayton met up with an old friend of his and fellow mage, Wodroff Pepek. Wodroff has no real employment to speak of, he's a free lance mage, and there is enough alternative culture in Carlisle for him to make a decent living from it.

But Wodroff isn't the only one free lancing, seems everyone is at it including Simon John Ritchie. He's been free lance slaying, keeping the vamp population down...well he's dusted a few, but hey it's a start. He was actually chasing Vampires when he ran into Amanda, our Slayer, well ran into her, and attempted to stake her. Except she kicked his ass, and upon realising he wasn't a Vamp proceeded to yell at him. It was the decision of Clayton that is was far better to have Simon join them, rather than him continue to free lance. Somewhat reluctantly at first he joined them, and is learning the tricks of the trade from the Slayer.

Along came trouble…

The Castle:

                        It's about 7pm on a Monday night in the middle of November, and like most nights and for that matter days in Carlisle it's raining.

The Castle is closed, with the exception of one small wing, where the Head Curator of the castle's current major historic display has his office. Here the lights are on and there and four people gathered around a table reading through paper cuttings on a recent spate of murders when various organs have been removed from the bodies of the victims. What the papers don't say is that all the bodies were drained of blood.

The murders have been occurring near both the train station and the cathedral. But no one has been around to witness anything and you have yet to see anything. Perhaps tonight’s patrol...

"....Could yield some clues". Clayton took off his reading glasses and pondered the information they had. Normal vampires he knew about, but this idea of removing organs was new to him. He had done a search of much of the material he had here, and had not been able to establish any kind of link.

Clayton looked across the table at his niece, Amanda. The slayer. They had to stop this, Clayton knew that. He just wished he knew what they were trying to stop.

* * * *

Pepek was sleepy. He was not sure where he was but it was defiantly not home. He had a couch and not a bed. He had a TV and not a crystal ball, and he defiantly didn't have a picture of BSB on the wall. Shaking his head he looked left. UGHHH. From all the beds in this world he had to end up in this one.
Slowly he got up and started to pull on his pants. Madame Lusyanka's daughter... Madame's only daughter. Underage daughter.
Argh.
He managed to slip out and he was on the street. Couldn't go home, she would find him there, couldn't get drunk, he was broke and anyways the drinks were what got him in this trouble.
So he went where he always did when he was in trouble.

Few minutes later he was knocking on the door.
"Come on Clayton lemme in!"

Clayton heard a hammering on the door of his area of the castle, along with a voice. A voice he recognised all too well. Turning to Amanda, he said, "wait here". Then went to the door. As he pulled it open he saw the damp and dishevelled form of Pepek. "Come in, I tried to call you. We may have a problem...."

Behind Pepek stood Simon John Ritchie- "Hi guys..." Simon stood nervously, "Sorry I'm late, got caught up with some of those 'orrible fanged types outside...What's this problem then?"

"Well, we have a spate of what appears to be vampire activity with an unusual twist,” said Clayton as he invited the slightly damp pair inside. "I'm hoping tonight's patrol will shed some light on the subject."

The trio arrived in the room Clayton affectionately called "The lair". Amanda was sat at the table sifting through a pile of paperwork and making notes. There were newspaper clippings and old looking tomes uncharacteristically spread about the room. Clayton spoke again, "I'm going to put the kettle on, would anyone like a drink? We need to discuss what we know and try to work out what's going on."

"I'll take a black coffee, no sugar. I'm all tooled up for tonight’s rounds " Simon open up a duffle bag filled with Stakes and silver weaponry. "I'm just looking forward to some action." Simon punches the air.

"Simon, we've had this discussion before. Don't go rushing straight in. The last thing we need is you injured if something big is kicking off." Clayton was getting tired of having to give this talk; He had tried all the usual approaches. That slaying wasn't a game, that a cocky fighter makes mistakes and various other tactics. Simon was getting good, he was starting to occasionally win sparring contests with Amanda, but he was still nowhere near as good as he thought he was.

He was still worried about the reaction of the council if Simon got hurt. Although they had relaxed the rules a bit, they were still not big on involving anyone who wasn't a watcher or a slayer in the good fight. He'd justified Simon's presence by pointing out that he would be free-lancing if he'd told him to go away. At least this way him and Amanda could do their best to control him.

"Any other drinks?" he asked.

Pepek follows Clayton in side thinking *Naturally there are troubles. When it was time there were no troubles? It usually is something like sexual appetite devouring demon Alopholopis, or one legged hopping Vampire that sun can't hurt. Why can't there be a demon who makes you desirable to all the women and backslash is that you can't get enough sex?
As they walked in Pepek gazed at the pretty slayer... well at least decor is better this time.
"I'll have a scotch, and that good stuff you hide in the sofa."
He sits as close to slyer he can.
"So what's the rush this time?"

"Pepek, You can have some of the good stuff once you leave my niece alone". Clayton was looking sternly at his friend. "I would also suggest that I will not be held responsible for her actions."

"The rush? I'm not exactly sure. I am not a big fan of not knowing what's going on, things have a tendency to creep up on you." He looked over at Amanda, "Have you found anything else?" He asked.

Ignoring Pepek, Amanda replied to her uncle's question.
"Nothing of any use. I have to admit, the idea of an organ remover kinda turns my stomach!"

Even in the mass of books Clayton had in his study, Amanda couldn't find anything; there was stuff on Vampire's and stuff on Organ eating demons but nothing on both at the same time.

Even using Vogel's book on 'Vampires and their cult religions' turned up nothing.

Amanda dropped the book she had been looking at on the table, and blinked profusely to try and clear her vision. She had been reading for far to long.

"Okay. That has officially turned up absolutely nothing!" She said, sighing slightly.

"Ok, so we have no luck with the books. May I suggest that Amanda and myself take a little stroll to the Currock and have a chat with Debbie." Clayton looked at Simon and Pepek, "You two can stay here and use that damn computer to see if you can turn anything up." He didn't trust either of them to behave in the Currock, nor would they properly understand why they had to.

He looked at Amanda, "That sound ok to you?"

"Okay. It beats straining my eyes looking through any more of these huge tomes. Especially when they don't seem to be helping!"

Simon looks slightly annoyed as Clayton and Amanda leave the room...His eyes flit towards Pepek as a grin creeps across his face..."Porn?"

The Currock

It didn't take Amanda and Clayton to long to reach the Currock Carlisle’s only demon bar.

The Currock had a strict no fighting policy which made it a safe haven for the not so human in the city, so long as they followed the no fighting rule. The rule extended to any sort of violence be it physical or magical.

One of the previous owners had paid a very powerful mage to put a spell on the place causing 'Very Bad Things' to happen to anyone that broke it. Like all rules it had been broken once or twice, but it wasn't unusual for those that broke it to suddenly drop down dead.

A few people/demons looked as Amanda and Clayton walked in and headed for the bar.

Amanda felt someone brush past her and got the familiar feeling that it was more of a vampiric someone.

"Mmmm Slayer, tasty." He whispered in her ear as he turned to leave.

Clayton headed straight for the bar. Debbie was stood behind serving drinks of various kinds. Pepek had introduced him to this place and told him the history. To be honest, Clayton was amazed Pepek had come in here and survived, given what he knew of the rules. There were reasons why he hadn't wanted Simon and Pepek to come here. He could trust Amanda to control herself, and he wasn't looking for trouble.

Clayton lent against the bar and placed a twenty pound note on the bar. He looked at Debbie and said "large Brandy, whatever she wants, (pointing to Amanda), one for yourself and a bit of help. Please."

"Hello Clayton pet, Amanda." Debbie said as she got the drinks.

Unlike most of the clientele in the Currock Debbie was human; admittedly she was a rather large woman who took up most of behind the bar. But she was a friendly person and didn't mind who drank in her bar be them human, demon, Vampire, Watcher or Slayer.

"So what brings you in here tonight Clayton?" She asked placing the drinks on the table.

Clayton looked at Debbie, "We're after a bit of information. There's been some very unusual activity in the last few days. Bodies have been found drained of blood, with their internal organs removed." Clayton paused to give Debbie a chance to digest his words, "My research so far isn't turning up anything useful, hence we're here." Clayton took a swig of his drink while waiting for Debbie's response.

Sitting in a dark corner of the bar, Selwin noticed the arrival of the two newcomers.
'Didn't look like the usual clientele for a place like this. Maybe they were what he was looking for. The girl looks the type. Fit, with a predator look. The man. Why do they always wear tweed? Lets wait and see what there are up to. Any way still have most of a pint to finish.'
Selwin tops up the beer in his glass with a shot of the stuff in a brown paper wrapped bottle.
Quickly looks around, takes a slug, caps it and slides it back in his pocket.

After the unidentified voice behind her, Amanda took a deep breath, and started to walk purposefully towards the bar. The vamp was so close to having a stake driven through his heart, but she knew better than to start trouble here. Besides, she had bigger things to worry about at the moment. Putting self-control mode firmly in place, she went and stood next to her Uncle.

Debbie leistered to Clayton's problem.

"Sounds like Vampires to me pet, but organ stealing is a new one." She said.

"I haven't heard if they've been up to anything lately, but I know Banks is back in town which is never a good sign, that one's always trouble. I'd keep your niece a fair distance from him he's especially bad news to Slayers, has a taste for them, if you get my drift." She warned, she liked the Slayer and her Watcher and didn't really want to see them come to a bad end.

Amanda made a mental note of the name, and another to prepare herself for a rough ride. She was good at what she did, but everyone has their Achilles heel. Amanda had no intention of becoming someone's lunch anytime soon.

Banks.... Now that was a name Clayton had hoped not to hear again. He'd never met him, but by all he'd read he didn't want to. The guy was from the "I want to destroy the world" school of vampires, and had a severe reputation.

"Thanks for the tip", said Clayton as he finished his drink. As he turned, he noticed an unusual figure in the corner. The mass of clothing made determining the gender of the occupant. Clayton didn't recognise the person as a regular here...

Selwin intent on watching the two figures suddenly noticed one of them was regarding him. Looking directly at the tweed clad male, he raised his glass slightly and nodded. He smiled a gesture of friendship, however this was slightly hampered by the large mass of unkempt tangled hair over his mouth.

As Clayton watched, the shaggy mass raised his glass slightly and nodded. There was something about him that Clayton couldn't put his finger on; it was almost like Clayton had met him before. Clayton nodded in return.

Clayton looked at Amanda and said, "shall we head home, We have some more research to do."

"We may as well. I'm not sure that it'll reveal anything useful, but we can try!"

Clayton and Amanda turned and began to head for the door. Now Clayton knew Banks was back in Carlisle, he wanted to read up on him again.

Selwin saw the two figures leave and decided it was time to follow, downing the remains of his pint, he belched and stood up.
Keeping a discreet 20 paces behind, he followed them out of the pub.
Damn, he hated the weather this far north. Protecting himself from the cold and rain, he pulled his coats tighter around him.

Clayton turned to Amanda as they were walking, "shall we get a move on, I don't like leaving those two alone. God only knows what trouble they'll get themselves into."

He quickened his pace slightly

Amanda's mind started to wander at what trouble the other two could be getting into. The potential for this was why she didn't especially like civilians getting involved, but it was better keeping them under close control than letting them go freelance.

She also quickened her pace.

Damn. They've sped up, thought Selwin. It’s alright for those kids, but at my age, the joints ache, then there are the flat feet.
Selwin suddenly had the thought, maybe there was trouble. He dug his hand into his pocket, removed the bottle. Well that will help the pain, he said to himself. So he replaced it with a stake.
Damn, my feet!

Meanwhile back at the Castle….

About 20 minutes after Amanda and Clayton left, whilst Wodroff and Simon were still 'researching', a huge crash came from somewhere down the hall, followed by the sound of something breaking.

Pepek kicks Simon in the shines and screams:
"I'm not sure what is going on But I AM SURE it is ALL your fault!"
He turns around looking for Claytons usual armaments.

"WTF? It's got nowt to do with me...Unless they followed me here..."
Simon dives for his duffle bag, and grabs some stakes and a revolver loaded with silver ammunition...

"You ready Woody?" Simon eyes up the door...

Without waiting for Woodrof to reply, Simon burst through the door and into the hallway...

Simon stepped outside to find three sheepish looking Vampires stood in the hall way. One held a crowbar but the other two were unarmed.

"I thought you said the place was empty!" One the crow bar holding one said to the other two.

"I saw that bloody Slayer leave." One protested.

"Bank's is gonna kill us now." The other pointed out. All three vampires had local accents.

Simon remembered what Clayton had said to him earlier 'Don't go rushing straight in' he had said...

Simon raised his pistol, his finger twitching on the trigger, barrel pointed at the armed Vamp.
He ensured his aim was true. A shot rang out...

The shot struck one of the Vampires in the arm, and he let out an unholy string of cures. The shot had staggered him but not actually done much else.

"You little..." The Vampire yelled at Simon.

"OOOOh the little guy's got a gun, please don't hurt me." The Vampire with the crow bar joked setting him and his friend off in a fit of giggles.

With that the one that had been hit by the bullet picked up a chair that had been standing near by and hurled it at Simon.

The Vampires aim was off and the chair caught him a glancing blow, then it ricocheted off the wall and smashed.

After the initial shock of being struck by the chair, Simon knelt in the doorway, Pistol still drawn, he lined up another shot...

The Vampires continued laughing at the sight of the gun.

"Hey Kid we're vampires that aint gonna do much." One of them laughed.

The one with the crow bar paused for a second, "Tell you what, I'll give you one more free hit then I'm gonna come over there and drain you dryer than the desert."

"Whatever you say, Ugly” Simon grabs a stake from his belt and runs head first toward the Crowbar-carrying-vamp...He dives stake pointed towards the vamps chest...

The vampire suddenly shocked by this new attack took a step back a tripped over a fallen suit of armour.

This left him unable to block the stake and open to Simon's attack, which caught him square in the heart, the vampire swore loudly as he exploded into a cloud of dust, the crowbar clattering loudly on the floor.

The two remaining Vampires looked down on Simon and smiled hungrily

"Whoops! Mind the doors please!" Simon grabbed for two more stakes from his belt, and lunged for the remaining Vamps...

The Remaining Vampires stood either side of him, not too happy that their friend had just been dusted. As Simon pulled the stakes and lunged for the two Vampires, one moved incredibly quickly kicking Simon in the midsection.

"We'll show you.” the other said

"Hmm...Curious" Simon muttered, "They wanna fight back eh?"

He braced himself for a fight, Stakes at the ready...

"I'm gonna really enjoy hurting you little boy, the Boss said we couldn't play, 'cept I'm gonna make the exception for you. You'll make a great snack." One of the Vampires said just before launching at Simon with a snap punch to the head.

Simon attempted a block but missed and the vampires punch caught him full force, knocking him back a few feet and stunning him.

"Hmm...This isn't working" Thought Simon to himself.... He makes a mad dash for the Curator's study to see what the bloody hell Woodrof is doing. Simon was sure he had seen a crossbow in there earlier.

Clayton's office was as usual tidy; his weapons cupboard was against the far wall and was as always locked. (Anyone would think he didn't trust Simon and wodroff)

Slumped on the floor lay an unconscious Wodroff an empty bottle of 15 year old malt whiskey that had once been in claytons desk drawer and full was in his hand.

He could hear as the Vampires that remained in the corridor started to move toward the office.

Here comes the cavalry….

The walk from the Currock had been uneventful; everything was unusually quiet especially for Carlisle. And Clayton and Amanda arrived back at the Castle less than an hour after they had left.

Clayton noticed the broken window as they came to the castle. As he broke into a run, he called to his niece "Amanda, trouble." Reaching under his jacket, he pulled out his crossbow...

Reaching under her coat, Amanda pulled out a stake, and cautiously looked through the broken window.

Through the window Amanda could see the corridor, as she looked down the corridor she could see a trail of destruction, things had been smashed and at least one suit of amour was on the ground.

She could also see two silhouettes, and a tingling at the back of her neck told her they were Vampires.

And in that time Woodruff runs in. He had actually managed to put on a big decorative armour and pulled out some holy water he knew where to find.
"You wanna piece of me? You wanna piece of ME?!"
He looked around noticing how big those Vampires are!
"How many pieces do you want?"

Simon continued running, he could here the Vamps behind him...He vaulted the table, twisting its position slightly in the progress. He landed on the other side, and grabbed a crossbow. He aimed it at the door..."Now the tables have turned..." He looked at the now conscious Woodrof..."What happened to you?"

Amanda sighed. Would they never learn? Carefully and quietly she climbed through the broken window, while the vampires were distracted by the entertainment the others were putting on.
Sneaking behind the nearest vamp, she then decided to get their attention.
"You want to play? Now you play with me!" She said, as she aimed her stake into his heart.

The stake plunged and before the Vampire could notice he exploded into a cloud of dust.

His friend heard the sound, turned, and saw Amanda; he didn't have to be a rocket scientist to figure who she was.

"Oh balls!" He said before turning back and legging it down the corridor and jumping out of a window at the end.

"Leave him, is everyone ok?" asked Clayton as he climbed through the window, his small crossbow vanishing back under his tweed jacket. Was it coincidence that someone had attacked the castle while he and Amanda were away? He wasn't sure. "We need to hit the books, looking for information about a vampire named banks. Only the last 30-40 years are important." Clayton headed towards his study.

Amanda put her stake away, and gave Simon and Woodruff disapproving glances. She made a mental note to brief them (again!) on how you should, and how you should NOT face vampires. If she and Clayton had come back much later, they could well have had two bodies to deal with.

Still, that could wait for a little while whilst they hit the books. She just had to try and make sure she was around to baby-sit them whenever a vamp made an appearance, just in case...

Clayton looked across at his niece. He could tell she was about to give another lecture about vampire slaying to woodruf and Simon. He reached for a fairly new looking book of his shelf, and began searching for information on Banks. He remembered coming across the name before, and for some reason it had stuck in his mind. This was probably not a good thing to happen. When you read about as many vampires, demons and general nastiness as Clayton did, remembering specifics showed something bad. Scanning through the book, he began reading...

There was a surprising amount of information about Banks in the book, as well as a cross reference to the diary of Andrew De-sang, a watcher from about 20 years ago, and now departed.

The information told him:
Banks was about 30 years old; he'd been turned during the summer of love (1968) by a Vampire called Emily MacDonald.

In the past 30 years he'd made quite a name for himself in the city and had been seen as far south as London where he caused a merry hell for several weeks in 1981.

His most notable event was killing a Slayer and her Watcher in 1979, he had deliberate lured them to the city, and toyed with them for a few weeks then had murdered them, and then he had spent the next few months posting body parts to the council head-quarters.

The rest of the passage tells of Banks' attempts to make a name for himself by raising hell when and where he can.

Clayton looked again at the information in the book. "Oh dear. Oh dear." A vampire who was only 30 who had managed to kill a slayer, that was very worrying. He quickly began searching for information about Emily McDonald, to see if that might yield any more clues. If this vampire already had a slayer under his belt, he would have to step up Amanda's training again. He would also have to begin some training of his own, they could need some severe backup, and Clayton knew several ways of getting some.

Simon jumped up from his seat by the weapon cabinet. "Hey Amanda! Wanna help me search the internet for this guy" He winks at her "I think you'll really be able to help me here" He can't help but stare at her cleavage...Simon kicks himself, "Please, your help would really be appreciated."

He sits at the terminal, and pats the seat beside him, smiling inanely

Clayton looked at Simon, "Keep your hormones in check, we have work to do. Besides, I doubt you have the stamina to keep up with a Slayer. "

He went back to the books.

The name Emily Macdonald seemed worryingly familiar Clayton remembered seeing a memo about that particular Vampire. And how she was currently residing in Plymouth, under the watchful gaze of that city's Slayer and Watcher.

The memo was very recent only a few days old, and he was even more surprised when it described her as chipped and completely harmless.

Clayton also rechecked the diary of Andrew De-Sang, who had described Banks as a dangerous psychopath, who was going to be difficult to stop at best; Andrew's entry didn't seem to put too much hope on stopping him. Also scrawled in pencil next to that comment obviously by some other Watcher was the remark, ' and that was before he'd drained a slayer '

"Oh bugger", Clayton tried to stop the exclamation but failed. He'd actually drained the slayer. That was really bad. He'd heard of the effect, but had never witnessed it. If the diaries were true, then they were going to have their work cut out to stop Banks.

Amanda gave Simon a light slap on the shoulder, carefully judging it so that it would sting, but not cause any major damage. "I have to say, you're pretty lucky to be able to even suggest it. You almost got yourself killed earlier, and they weren't exactly the sharpest vamps around!"

Hearing her Uncle's exclamation from over the other side of the room, Amanda went over to him to see what he'd found, carefully pulling down her skirt as she walked away from Simon, he'd been staring enough today as it was.
"What's up?"

"Oh nothing much. Banks has previously killed a slayer and drained her, he then sent her body parts back piece by piece to the watcher's council." Clayton saw no reason to hide the facts from his niece; she deserved to know what she was up against. "Although he was only turned 30 years ago, he's managed to build himself a bad reputation. I've also got some interesting information about his sire. I'm going to go and make a phone call to follow it up. Can you tell the others what's going on, and give them some warnings. No-one is to try going one-on-one with this guy, not even you."

Clayton walked through to the study, closing the door on his way through and got out his phonebook. He looked at the memo on Emily McDonald, and then dialled the number he had for the watcher in Plymouth...

"Hey Amanda" Simon called, slightly gutted, "that offer is still open... " He scuffed his feet " Ah nuts... "

He turns to Clayton: "So we've got a tough guy eh?" He grabs a crossbow from the rack, and loads it up " We can take him...Whoa..." The crossbow fell from his fingers...

Amanda grimaced slightly as she was told the details of what Banks had done. For a brief moment she thought about arguing with Clayton about the whole taking him on one-to-one thing, but she had learned better than that.

Walking back over to Simon, she picked up the crossbow, and handed it back to him with a wry smile. "You should be more careful with those things you know!

"Anyway, it appears that this Banks is not the nicest person you could ever come across. Apparently he killed a Slayer, and then sent her body parts back to the Watcher's Council in small pieces." She forced a small smile.
"This could be a tough one!"

Hush Please; I’m on the phone…

Some where in a small book shop in Plymouth a phone rings…

Nathaniel put down the cup of tea and rolled over to the phone.
"Hello, Butterworth Books"

Clayton answered, "Good evening, My name is Clayton Johnson, I'm from Carlisle. Am I speaking to Nathaniel Butterworth?"

"Yes. How can I help you? Sorry, force of habit. How are you old boy? How's Amanda?"

"Amanda's fine, thanks. Main reason I rang you is to ask about Emily McDonald. We have a big problem up here, a vampire by the name of Banks. Emily was his sire. Any information would be of great help for us."

"Hum. Banks. No never heard of him, but then Emily has sired a sizable numbers of vampires over the years.
"I will talk to her and find out what she knows. She is out on patrol with Alice at the moment. As soon as she returns I'll talk to her, then phone you tomorrow."

"Thank you. Speak to you tomorrow." Clayton hung up the phone, and reached a book down from one of his shelves. He knew they needed help, and he knew where he could find it. Mind you, if Amanda caught him, he'd never hear the end of it. Amanda was touchy about Clayton using any form of magic since an incident about a year previously. They had been in serious trouble, having been jumped by 15 vampires. Amanda had been beaten down and they were about to finish her off. Making a quick decision, Clayton cast a hellfire spell, causing a rain of fire to strike all the vampires. The problem was the Karma kickback from it had put Clayton on the critical list in hospital. He'd promised Amanda that he wouldn't use magic anymore, but secretly, he knew that there would be situations where he would have to.

He took out a pot containing a white powder, and laid out a circle on the floor. Sitting down in the middle of it, he focused himself into a communication trance.

In a stand of trees, a pair of pointed ears perks up. The individual that they belong too, sits up, a look of easy focus on his face.

A tendril of ether, reaching out to him. He suddenly smiles, the smile becomes a grin, and then finally collapses back to the ground, in abject hilarity.

"Trust your instincts,” he rumbles quietly to himself, through his rumbling belly-laugh.

Clayton watched as his communication reached its target, and a smile crossed his face as he felt the response. He eased himself out of the trance and quickly cleared away the circle.

Putting the book back on the shelf, he unlocked the door and rejoined the others in the main room

Back to the action…

Selwin finally arrived at the broken window, puffy and panting. He noticed a bloke legging it down the road, looking like the devil himself was after him.
Looking through the window he saw the mess.
"Looks like they were having a party." he said to himself. With an effort Selwin crawled through the window, landing with a thump.
Ouch!
He lay there for a few minutes catching his breath and topping up the alcohol level in his blood.

Amanda heard the thump as the figure fell through the window. Pacing slowly over towards it, she stood up to her full height, and gave her 'what are you doing here' stare.

"Who the hell is this sorry looking' reprobate?" Simon asked Amanda...He turned around to greet the gentleman, saluted him and offered to shake his hand..." Simon John Ritchie at ya service "

Selwin looked up at the assembled crowd. Rubbing his hand on his coat (which just shifted the dirt between the two), he took the young man's hand and shook it.
"Selwin Marsh. Please to meet you. Heard you might need some help. Any chance of a help up here? Not as young as I used to be."
Selwin looked up at Simon expectantly.

Simon brushed his hand on his trousers once Selwin had released it. Pointing over his shoulder..." You wanna talk to those guys, We might need some help"

Amanda was still standing, watching over the new arrival. Unconvinced as to his motives for being here, she was a little concerned as to Simon's readiness to accept the stranger.

Selwin slowly clambered up off the floor and looked at Amanda.
"So you're the slayer are you? They are definitely getting younger.
"Name's Selwin. Independent demon hunter and vampire slayer and. former watcher." He paused dramatically, disappointed there was no cheering.
"Wondered if you wanted any help?"

"Thanks for the offer, but I think we've got everything pretty well covered at the moment. Unless you're particularly knowledgeable about some of the local head vamps!" Amanda said, still keeping a watchful eye on Selwin.

Clayton emerged from his study, and looked around. Everyone had gone. He walked into the corridor and saw Amanda and Simon talking to the man who had raised his glass at them in the Currock.

Drawing his crossbow, Clayton aimed at the figure and walked towards them.

Whilst Slewyin made his greetings to Clayton and the others Amanda's mobile phone rang....

As her phone rang, Amanda moved to a different room before answering. Clayton could deal with the 'new arrival' now.

Ring Ring….

"Good Evening Amanda" The voice on the other end said. Whoever it was had a local accent that seemed oddly familiar to Amanda.

"I just felt I should apologise for the early actions of my... associates." He said and from the tone of his voice Amanda could tell he was enjoying this too much.

"Oh course if I'd known your little friends were there...." The voice said pausing waiting for a response from the Slayer.

"I hope you use the term 'friends' loosely. They irritate me, I stop them from getting killed, it's a mutually beneficial relationship!"

"Well if I'd have know they were here I would have come my self. I think I would have enjoyed the look on your face as you found their mutilated corpses." Banks said, and chuckled to himself.

"I'm sorry about the mess they've made of your window, it seems they've let that tramp in, though doesn't your watcher look ... I would say scary but he's not, so I won't. Lets say he looks like he might actually make a decent meal if he put that crossbow down." Banks said suddenly stopping laughing and cutting to a low menacing wispier.

Wandering as casually as possible back into the room where everyone else was. Amanda scanned around her. Banks was watching from somewhere, she just didn't know where.
"I'm guessing there was a point to this call!"

"Hiding behind your Watcher won't help you Amanda." Banks told her as she moved into the other room.

"Point. Oh the point of this call yes now I remember, you dropped one of your stakes last week, when you dusted a couple of my boys near the station. Well it's currently at the scene of a murder of a group of clubbers, along with at least one of the crossbow bolts your Watcher miss-shot."

"And I suppose you're going to tell me that this crossbow bolt can be traced?" Amanda had learnt how to keep her voice level and calm, but inside she was starting to get a little concerned.

"Well not the crossbow it's self, but there are of course the fingerprints of your Watcher on it. Not to mention your finger prints all over that stake. Which I know the police can trace."

"Now how would that look a Slayer and her Watcher on a murder trial." Banks laughed.

"But I'm a sporting type of guy, I'll give you 15 minutes to find the bodies before I call the police, and give them the description of you, your Watcher and your little friends."

"I suggest you get over to the cathedral pretty smartish." Banks told her, nothing but malice in his voice.

Amanda hung up the phone and went to get her Uncle's attention.

Whilst our Slayer was on the phone…

Clayton watched Amanda leave, his crossbow still pointed at the mass in front of him. "Ok, why did you follow us? Who are you and what's going on here."

Selwin looked at the crossbow pointing at him and wondered if he could make it out the window. Nah!
"Please to meet you old boy. The name is Selwin Marsh. Independent demon and vampire hunter and I think you know what I am. Or at least what I used to be. As for why I am here? I have no idea. Something told me Carlisle might be a fun place to visit.
I get these itches to go somewhere and I've learnt to follow them." Selwin tried the friendly smile again. Maybe it would work one day.

Clayton moved his finger off the trigger, but kept the crossbow levelled at the figure, apparently called selwin. "I have a few ideas what you may be, some good, some not so good. Perhaps you'd care to enlighten me." There was something about him that twigged a memory in Clayton's mind, but with what he had read about banks, he was taking no chances. They needed all the help they could get, but they couldn't afford to let their guard down.

"Lets just say check you diaries for 25th May 1981. Look at Cardiff and the death of Meavanwe Rees.
Now I just thought I would say hello, but if you don't want me around just say so and I'll go. I am not here to get in anyone’s way."

Clayton looked at the figure, and passed the crossbow over to Simon. "Don't leave just yet. May 25th 1981 you say?" Clayton wandered off to his study, leaving Selwin and Simon, and took down the watchers diary for the months in question. Flicking through, he looked for references to Meavanwe Rees.

That was a short phone call…

Amanda caught Clayton's attention.
"We've got work to do. There are a group of bodies at the cathedral, as well as a stake and a crossbow bolt with our fingerprints on them. Banks is upping the pace!" Amanda paused.

"He also has my phone number, and is watching us, from somewhere!"

Clayton looked at Amanda, trying to process what she'd just said. "Oh bloody hell, I hate vampires who play games." Picking up his jacket, Clayton briskly walked into the corridor, and took his crossbow back off Simon, saying, "We've got problems, let's go." He looked at Selwin, "You coming?"

"Hey wait for me!" Simon dashed back into the study, and grabbed himself a crossbow, some stakes, his coat, and downed the rest of his now cold coffee

"I'm a coming with ya! "He bellowed...

Selwin relaxes a bit. Nods at Clayton and follows.

Checking the others are following him, Clayton headed towards the cathedral. He was starting to feel real dread now, compounded by the fact that the last slayer banks had killed had been lured to Carlisle, and He and Amanda had been sent to Carlisle to investigate an upsurge in the strange goings on. Subconsciously, he reached up and touched the silver cross hanging round his neck. He looked at the others and said "Remember, if the police are already there, don't go rushing in. It'll only make things worse". Clayton had some ideas about what he could do if the police were already there, the problem was Amanda wouldn't like them one bit.

And there was the mysterious Selwin...

As she moved to the cathedral, Amanda pulled her coat tighter around herself. It was a cold night. She was still unconvinced about Selwin, but there were bigger things to worry about.

Hmmm yes that’s a nice Cathedral…

The Cathedral looked as if it was deserted, which wasn't unusual.

It was dark and cold when the four of them arrived; Wodroff had gone home he was in no fit state to do much else.

The Cathedral was not a small area, there was the area surrounding the Cathedral, the Cathedral not to mention its grounds. And they had already used 13 of Banks' 15 minutes of free time.

Clayton looked at his watch; they had 2 minutes, plus however long the police took to get here. Looking at Amanda, Simon, and the mysterious Selwin, he said, "We've not gone long, 5 mins at the most. I suggest we split up and search. If the police come, don't get caught. We'll think of something".

Amanda acknowledged what her uncle had said, but still didn't fancy their chances. "Don't get arrested - easier said than done!" she muttered to herself.

"Jeez, If I get arrested, my Mother will kill me... So, we gonna find these bodies then? I suggest we try...inside!

"Inside is good, but outside is also a possibility. I'll take the grounds. If you find anything, grab the evidence, but leave the bodies alone. We've got enough to deal with as it is, without adding a few corpses to the list!"

Amanda then started jogging around the grounds, scanning around her for the bodies.

Clayton nodded, "Be careful, and if you get in trouble, phone". He walked over to the door and gave it a tug to see if it was unlocked.

The door was unlocked, and opened easily.

Though it revealed a grizzerly site, a piece of paper lay on a desk in the hall way, on top of the piece of paper was a served hand holding a pen.

Clayton did his best to keep his composure. Looking around, he stepped forward to read the note.

The note was written in blood

”OOOhhhh your cold, try again.”

The note was signed with a bloody smiley face which had fangs.

"How tasteful", Clayton commented. Moving swiftly on, he started to search the building.

The building was empty, a few candles still burned, and the place smelt faintly of incense, but there was no sign on Vampire activity or any dead bodies.

Moving back outside, Clayton began searching the area close by.

The area surrounding the front of the cathedral was also quiet, nothing had been disturbed, though pinned to a bench near the door was another note.

Looking around cautiously, Clayton walked over to the note and read it.

Once again the note was written in blood.

"Sorry Clayton old bean, and your friends there, your times up....the call has been made. And if were you I'd check up on Amanda."

Again the same smiling vampire face was at the bottom of the note.

Clayton took out his mobile phone and pressed 1, the quick dial number for Amanda. He also slipped the crossbow out from under his jacket.

After a few rings Amanda picked up the phone....

"Hi. Found anything?" Amanda asked.

"Notes. Watch your back, okay. How about you", Clayton didn't like this; he didn't like people playing games.

"Nothing. Anything useful in the notes?"

"Nothing useful, idle threats. Hurry up back here and watch your back, Ok." Clayton hung up the phone and looked again at the note, Suddenly it dawned on him. The note wasn't here when they came, because they looked. That meant Bank's, or one of his cronies was here watching them.
"Oh bloody hell." Clayton couldn't believe he'd missed it.

Meanwhile in the Cathedral grounds Amanda felt a familiar feeling along the back of her neck, trouble was it was coming from the direction of the Cathedral.

Amanda turned and ran back towards the cathedral. There was something going on there, and she needed to find out what.

The feeling was getting worse, where ever the Vampire's were they were very close by.

So close in fact one grab Amanda as she ran back to the Cathedral. Spinning her off her feet.

"Well I'll be!" The Vampire said in a thick cockney accent

"A slayer, what do we say to that one boys." The Vampire said to the 5 other Vampires that stood with him.

Clayton focused his mind inwards, searching for his niece’s aura. The fact that there was someone here worried him severely. He had to find her.

Amanda secretly reached into her pocket and pressed the speed dial button for her Uncle. She may need some backup on this one.
Standing her ground, she studied the vamps in front of her.

"Nice night for a stroll eh?"

Clayton felt Amanda's aura, she was close by, and she was scared. Something bad was definitely happening.

"Nice Night for a snack little girl. None of us has ever tasted a Slayer before have we boys." The Cockney Vampire said as he advanced on Amanda.

Focusing on Amanda's location, Clayton started running.

Amanda reached under her jacket and pulled out a stake. Twirling it in her fingers (she knew going to majorettes as a child would come in useful), she looked casually at her the vampire advancing on her.

"And you're not going to taste one now!"

Clayton turned as he ran and called to the others "Come on, trouble".

Simon's ears pricked up in the direction of the commotion. "Shit...."
His crossbow loaded, safety off, He began the short sprint in the direction of Clayton's Voice...

Clayton looked back to see Simon running as well, crossbow drawn. He continued running towards Amanda's location. Something was up; he'd felt it in her aura. He knew Amanda could handle herself, but he still felt responsible for her.

Simon could now see Clayton running away from him. He pushed a little faster....

Amanda stopped twirling her stake, and stood firm. Just a little closer...

The Vampire stopped a meter or some from Amanda.

"Well go on then little girl, I'm waiting."

As he said this the 5 other members of his gang laughed, all wanting a share of the Slayer.

Amanda stood there for a moment, staring at the vampire in front of her. She then mentally focussed herself, and launched a roundhouse kick at the head of the vampire closest to her. The kick rocked the Vampire somewhat but he still kept his feet.

He responded by throwing a punch at Amanda's head, which she was just able to avoid.

Clayton saw a group of people ahead of him, and heard Amanda’s voice. Suddenly, he saw Amanda snap a roundhouse kick at the nearest one. Clayton levelled his crossbow and fired at the line of vampires.

Amanda decided that this was not the time for heroics, and went for the staking. There were bigger things that needed her attention than this guy. The other vamps standing behind him, for instance.

Clayton's concentration must have been off as the bolt struck the Vampire just inches from his heart.

The was a string of curses from the Vampire as he pulled the bolt out and looked for whoever had fired it.

He managed to pick out Clayton, still stood there with the cross bow.

"Sorry, old chap, I thought the safety was on". Clayton smiled and pulled a stake and a small bottle from under his jacket, secreting the crossbow away as he did so. "Shall we dance?"

The Vampire Flipped him off.

And advanced on the annoying guy in tweed.

Clayton feinted a left jab at the Vampire's face, and sent the stake in his right hand straight for the vampire's heart...

The Vampire went to block the punch, which opened him up for the Stake which struck him square in the heart.

The Vampire exploded into a cloud of Dust around Clayton.

The 4 other remaining Vampire's saw this and started to advance on the guy in tweed and the two others that were with him. Leaving their elected leader to battle the Slayer.

"Oh dear, I really should be more careful with this thing," Clayton said as he backed away a bit. The odd vampire he could handle, but 4 on 1 was beyond him, and now the edge of surprise had gone. He fingered the bottle, it could solve a lot of problems, but Amanda would tear a strip of him and at the end of the day, the natural order always has to balance. He waited for the vampires to make a move, and hoped Simon was paying attention.

Suddenly, a large, scruffy-looking shape burst out of the undergrowth, piling into the group of vampires advancing on Clayton's position, striking at them with an oversized walking stick, while attempting to spike one on the sharp end... Kanyk's opponent pulled out a large nasty looking knife. He blocked the staff with his arm and lunged at Kanyk with the knife, which just missed its intended target.

Twirling his staff, Kanyk swirled away from his opponent. Turning to face his opponent, he planted his stick to the ground, staring down the nearest vamp.

He turns to Clayton and winks, roguishly, grinning like a cat, pointy teeth, an' all.

Loud enough for all the vamps to hear, he rumbles, "This would be a suitable point for you to leave, smiley." Eying the vampire up and down, smiling softly, he adds, "and I'll only say this once..."

Looking at the vampire standing over Amanda, he leapt towards him, trying to push him away from the downed slayer. "That goes for you too, friend."

Clayton smiled as the figure burst from the bush. His backup had arrived. Now, how was he going to explain Kanyk's appearance to Amanda...

Holding his stake in his hand, he looked for another target.

Selwin arrived at the Cathedral puffing.
Shit, the fight without him.
One quite slug to steady himself, then swapped it for a stake and a cross.
Most of the vamps seemed to be concentrating on the Slayer, watcher and the new arrival.
Cursing the hole on his shoes, Clayton moved around, getting behind one of the bad guys.

Crossbow ready, Simon let off a bolt at the nearest Vamp's head... Simons bolt hit the Vampire in the head, The Vampire looked at him, "Ow! Now why the heck would you want to shoot me in the head?"

He said and advanced on Simon.

"So that I can do this!!!" Simon pulled the bolt protruding from the vamp's face releasing it, and jabbed it into his heart... The Vampire exploded into a cloud of dust, covering Simon and obscuring his vision she he did not see the first of one of the other Vampire's before it punched him knocking him off his feet. As Simon fell, the crossbow was knocked out of his hands. It visibly broke as it hit the floor.

"Shit...Looks like a bit of hand to hand then..."

Clayton saw the vampire hit Simon, and attacked during the distraction, aiming to drive his stake home... Clayton missed the vampires hand, and was off balance when the Vampire caught him with a backhand knocking him onto Simon who was still getting to his feet, sending them both sprawling to the ground. Clayton fingered the bottle again. Remembering he must not act in anger, he pushed the thoughts away. Scrambling back to his feet, he evaluated the situation.

Simon himself free of Claytons aged, slightly overweight body, and jumped to his feet. He drew a stake and flanked the vampire that pushed Clayton...

Selwin eyed up a suitable target and approached it.
Many years of fight these things told him that fighting fair would get him killed (nearly happened more than once, but that was another life), he attempted to plunge the stake into the vamp's back, trusting to years of experience and blind luck, it would hit home.

The Vampire smelt Slewin before the old man had a chance to stake him, and with one punch knocked him off his feet. Selwin rolled to his feet to face the vamp.

Rubbing his injury, he dived into his pocket and pulled out a perfume sprayer. Squirting as fast as he could, he endeavoured to cover the vamp in a mist of holy water, the while he is distracted by the hissing and fizzing of his skin, he would nail the sucker.

The Vampire screamed in pain, and left himself open to Selwin, The stake went in and the Vampire exploded to dust. Selwin stepped back from the dust cloud (it might clean him up) and looked for his next target.

Amanda stepped in towards her opponent, and aimed the stake in her right hand straight for his heart. The Vampire blocked the on coming stake, and head butted Amanda knocking her off her feet. Amanda's first instinct was to get to her feet as quickly as possible, but then she decided a knee strike was more appropriate. If she wasn't standing, then he shouldn't be either. The knee strike connected and brought the Vampire down, unfortunately it was on top of Amanda

Kanyk arrived just as the Vampire fell on top of Amanda.

Amanda gripped the vampire with her knees, and rolled over, aiming to keep the vampire under her. Then she once again aimed her stake for his heart. The Vampire managed to block the on coming stake; he was really having to try in this fight something he wasn't used too. Amanda powered her fist into the vampire's face. The Vampire screamed in pain as his nose exploded in a shower of blood.

He saw red, not just from the blood streaming down his face. He reached up and grasped his hands around Amanda's throat; he flipped their positions so he was now on top. And stated to choke the Slayer.

Clayton looked at the vampire Kanyk had just left; he didn't appear to be paying attention to him. Clayton took his stake in his hand, and started to move towards his blind side. The Vampire found himself stuck between Clayton and Simon, He swore as they both went for him at the same time.

Simon rubbed his eyes as he regained his uprightedness, and staked the writhing vamp...

One of them hit the mark as the Vampire crumbled to dust. Looking around, Clayton realised that the only vampire left was the one under Amanda.

He saw Kanyk heading towards the two of them, that didn't bode at all well for the vampire. Although he had kind of hoped he would get a chance to discuss and explain things to Amanda before she met him.

Clayton started to go round the area and check all the obvious fight evidence was removed. Clayton heard the sound of someone choking, turning round, he saw the vampire straddling Amanda, hands round her throat. She was struggling ineffectively against his grip.

"NO!!” Clayton cried. Without thinking further, he pulled the bottle from under his coat, threw it into the air, and called "Sunburst, light the skies and drive away the darkness."... The contents of the bottle rose high into the air and as Clayton spoke the last line of the spell; the grounds of the cathedral were bathed in sunlight.

The Vampire screamed as he started to burn, unfortunately for Amanda his hands started to burn whilst they were still around her throat. Which caused her some degree of pain too.

The daylight lasted for little over 10 seconds but it was enough to incapacitate the Vampire. And ruin the night vision of the others in the Cathedral grounds.

Clayton ran forward, having remembered to close his eyes as he cast the spell, aiming to stake the incapacitated vampire... The Vampire wasn't really able to defend himself as both Clayton and Simon attacked him, both getting there about the same time. So it was difficult to see which actually staked the Vampire. But never-the-less he turned to dust.

But messing around with magic after such along absence from it had left Clayton feeling somewhat light headed.

And not too far away could be heard the sound of sirens.

Clayton rubbed his temple; the familiar fuzziness was there. He reached out to help Amanda up and said "Come on, we'd better get out of here.” Turning to Kanyk, he said "Are you coming too?"

Kanyk dusts himself off, muttering to himself about needing to spend a little time polishing up his skills....

"What about the 'evidence'?" he says to Clayton... "I can search on, if you wish, those people will not see me, unless I want them too..." Clayton thought about what Kanyk had said, it was a good idea, and with what Clayton knew, their presence wouldn't be known about.

"Ok, we'll head back to the castle, if you could quickly check around, that would be great. You're most welcome to join us later at the castle if you want. Thank you for the assist." Clayton reached out to shake Kanyk's hand.

Kanyk reached out, and warmly shook the offered hand.

"I shall scout around, and will gladly join you at the castle." He smiled to himself, "I was nearly there when I saw you all rushing off, had to run like buggery to catch you up..."

Selwin looked at Clayton.
"If anyone can be bothered, I'll help the big guy. The police won't bother me. The worst they'll do is moving me on."

He turned to Kanyk and offered to check inside the cathedral
Looking to Selwin, "You won't see me, but I'll not be far away..."

With that he fades into the undergrowth.

.

Amanda stumbled to her feet, ignoring her Uncle's offered help. She gave him a disdainful glance and headed back to the Castle in silence. It was obvious to all concerned that she was NOT in a good mood.

Simon lolloped after the others a few feet behind...

Clayton began to lead the group back to the castle. He looked at his Amanda; it was obvious his niece was not happy with him. After the incident, he'd promised not to use magick, but in reality he'd just moved his usage underground. He tried to avoid it unless absolutely necessary, but there were times when he had no choice. Why did he feel that Amanda wouldn't see it this way..?

Leaving two behind…

After at least an hour of searching they found nothing except 6 neat little piles of dust. Even the two disturbing notes and the severed hand we gone.

Selwin wandered back outside and looked around.

"Hello? Are you still here, my friend?" Selwin wandered around the grounds.
"Well no police, no evidence, and no demon. Oh well if he's gone walkabout, I’d better return to the castle."
Selwin continue to look around.
"If you can hear me, I'm going back to the castle. I will see you there. Bye"
Selwin started his slow trudge back to the castle, stopping of at the bins outside McWimpys for supper.

"Hmm, indeed, time to go..."

Kanyk traipsed off; following the path Selwin had taken.

Meanwhile fun and games continued at the castle…

The group arrived back at the main door of the Castle in the early hours of the morning, only to find themselves greeted by a stationary Police car and a rather annoyed looking Police constable stood at the main door.

He noticed them approach.

"Excuse me Sir." The policeman said reaching for his notebook, "You wouldn't happen to be a Mr Clayton Johnson would you?"

Putting on his best 'British nobility' voice, Clayton replied, "I am indeed, How can I assist you officer?"

"Good because I've got something belonging to you." The policeman said as he eyed the rest of the group strangely, what was a middle aged man doing hanging around with two people who definitely looked under 18 he thought to himself.

Simon felt uncomfortable as the lump of rocky jabbed into his foot...

He tried not to make eye contact with the PC...

"Really", Clayton asked, surprised, "and what might that be." He hoped none of the others would do or say anything dumb. Simon looked uncomfortable, and Amanda still had a face like thunder on...

The Policeman looked at the male youth, he definitely looked shifty, and the girl just looked moody as hell. Then he returned his gaze back to Clayton, he had no idea what was going on here, and he wasn't sure if he wanted to.

He signalled to his friend in the squad car, and they got out of the back seat dragging someone with them.

They recognised the figure being dragged as Woodruff.

"We found him wandering drunkly down through the shopping centre, we were gonna arrest him but he said that he was looking for you, and gave us your address. " The Policeman explained, the cells were full tonight and he really couldn't be bothered with the paper work for locking a drunk up for the night.

"He very nearly ended up in the garlands, he was yelling how we couldn't lock him up 'cos he had to go fight Demons and Vampires. Please look after him in future." The policeman warned Clayton as he handed over Woodruff

"Oh and stay out of trouble, all of you." He said still not being able to shake the feeling something was going on with this lot.

And with that Both Policemen got back into the car and left.

"Thank Buttercup for that!!!"

Simon relaxed, wandered inside, and put the kettle on.

"Coffee? Tea? Herbal remedy?

Clayton looked at Woodruff, drunk and disorderly as usual. He rubbed his temples again, his head was definitely aching, he must really be out of practice.

"I need a cup of tea." and possibly some paracetamol, he thought to himself.

The Castle was still the way they had left it, particulary the corridor in which Clayton's office was. A few doors down for the office was a small kitchen where Simon was fixing hot drinks and where Clayton had found the empty paracetamol box with a note to himself to buy some more, which he'd obviously forgot to do.

Clayton kicked himself when he saw the note, he really must stop doing that. He went to his cupboard and got out a decanter of port, that should help the headache. He poured himself a small glass, and drank it down.

Pepek just smiled and dropped on the floor. "Thanks pops." he says to Clayton. "Do you have any coffee?"
he smiles and looks around.
"And who's the geek?"

"The *geek* is Simon, you met him earlier. Remember? Well actually, you probably don't remember do you." Clayton really didn't need this right now. "I suggest you go and get some serious coffee into yourself."

"Sure I remember him..." Woodrof scratches his head and leans over to Clayton. "I don't owe him any money do I?" he slips and falls "Faster with that coffee!!"

Clayton just rolled his eyes and headed for his study. Perhaps he could find something to help his head.

Amanda intercepted her Uncle walking along the corridor, grabbed the neck of his tweed jacket, and dragged him into the study. Slamming the door behind her, she pushed him to the opposite side of the room.

Folding her arms across her chest, she stared at him. "I think we need to have a little chat!" She said, sarcastically.

The door slammed so hard that it jumped out of its hinges. And Cracked along where the hinge ran. It would be fun to see Clayton explain exactly how the door got broken to his superiors.

By this point the kettle had boiled. Simon made two mugs of strong black coffee, and handed both to Woodroff.

He made a mug of something herbal and started supping on it...

"Ahh! Clayton wanted some tea.." He brewed the tea, and wandered over to the now dilapidated door...Shouts could be heard emanating from within...

OH Dear, it’s getting messy… (Slush warning)…

"Please be careful with the doors, they come out of the maintenance budget."

Ignoring her uncle's attempt to create civil conversation, Amanda's expression became even more severe (if that was possible).

"What the hell did you think you were doing?"

Clayton knew exactly what she meant, but chose to feign ignorance. "Well, Woodruff needs somewhere to stay...."

"That's not what I mean, and you know it." She said, taking one step closer to him.

"I was keeping you alive...."

"As far as I know I wasn't dead. Do I look dead to you? The situation was under control!"

"Yeah, being under a vampire with his hands around your throat and slowly turning purple, that's under control." Clayton had a feeling this one could be a long one.

"Two seconds later I would have rammed a stake through his back, he would have been dust, I wouldn't have got burnt, and everything would be fine. "

Amanda glanced down at the floor, obviously both very angry, and upset.

"You said you'd stopped doing that. You looked me in the eye and promised me."

"I said I wouldn't do it unless it was absolutely necessary, I promised to curtail my use of magick, not to never use it again." Clayton said, trying to remember the exact conversation. It had taken place shortly after he had awoken from the coma, and was a bit hazy. "I'm sorry, sometimes these things have to be done, Amanda. It doesn't mean I don't care for you."

"And you think sorry is good enough do you? It wasn't necessary, it's never necessary!"

"Are you sure? I can remember one time when it very definitely was necessary."

"No, you thought it was necessary, and it almost killed you!"

"Damn it Amanda, there were 15 of them, and you'd been beaten to a pulp, what the hell was I supposed to do? Leave you to die?"

"Yes." Amanda said, her expression deadly serious.

Clayton looked at his niece, there was no way he could have let he die if he could have stopped it. "I'm not letting you die that way, not then and not now. You're my niece and my slayer, you're the most important thing to me." Clayton looked straight into Amanda's eyes and said "If I was in trouble, would you do everything in your power to help me?"

"You know I would, but this is different. The destiny of every Slayer is death. You know that as well as I do!"

"That as maybe, it doesn't mean I'm going to let you go before I have to, even if it means killing myself to do it." Clayton knew the consequences of some of the stuff he knew, but that wouldn't necessarily stop him.

"What?" Amanda's expression changed to one of surprise and disgust. "It's what's going to happen, accept it! I should be the one having a problem with the situation, but I've accepted it, why can't you?"

"I have accepted it, that doesn't mean I'm going to stand by and let it happen. For god's sake Amanda, you aren't going to be taken away from me unless there is truly nothing I can do." Clayton blinked tears away from his eyes as he spoke. He couldn't loose her, he just couldn't.

"You can make a difference, and I won't let you throw that away. This is what I can do, and I'll do it to the best of ability while I can. One day I'll make a mistake, and someone will be chosen to replace me, that's how it works.
Other people need you. Simon and Woodruff will always need babysitting, and that's just for starters."

"But I haven't known them since they were a bump in my sister's stomach, I haven't trained them since they were 5 years old. Things aren't as cut and dried as you would like." Clayton knew he was supposed to be objective; it was why the council had tried to replace him as Amanda's watcher. He just couldn't be. "I don't have your strength, your speed. I can't go head to head with evil without something else. If I have to, I'll use it."

"Well, maybe the council was right when they said you shouldn't be my Watcher, if you're going to be stupid and commit suicide because you can't deal with the inevitable."

Clayton stepped backwards, shocked at his niece's outburst. "It wasn't just me who didn't want change. You find me one watcher who won't do everything in his power to help his slayer." Clayton felt a tear roll down his cheek, "I'm trying to accept it, I really am. I just can't bring myself to risk losing you."

Seeing her Uncle's distress, Amanda felt her eyes filling up. "Of course Watcher's will make every effort to help their Slayer, but they're also meant to know when to let go. It's going to happen one day, and the sooner you really realise that, the easier it's going to be."

"I know it's going to happen one day, I really do. I could never live with myself if I could have stopped it and didn't though." Clayton wondered why Amanda had to make this so hard. She was important, both to him and to the world, and he would never let her go without a fight.

"That doesn't mean you have to do anything stupid in the process. Messing around with things you don't really understand is not the answer!"

"I do understand it, and I know what it's likely to do to me. I did last time...."

Amanda stood silent for a moment, shocked.
"That just makes what you did even more stupid then, doesn't it?" She paused for a moment, unsure of what to say, but there was one thing she was sure of; her rage had returned.
"I can't believe you could have been that crazy." Walking forcefully over to the desk, she picked up the phone and started to dial.

Clayton walked over to the phone socket on the wall and ripped the cable out of the wall. "You just don't understand yet, despite what you think. It has to be this way."

Amanda took her mobile out of her pocket, and started dialling again.

Clayton snatched the phone from her hand, asking "who the hell are you calling at this hour that's so damn important anyway?"

"Directory enquiries." She replied, emotionless

"Sometimes I worry about you. Why would you want to get a phone number.” Clayton smoothed the creases in his suit, it was kind of a therapeutic action.

"I was going to ring a certain mental institution that's not too far away. If you're willing to throw your life away by using forces that you shouldn't be playing with, maybe they're the only people that can help you!"

Simon meandered through the b0rked door brandishing a mug menacingly...He had a blank vacant expression on his face, dumped the tea on the table and swiftly made a beeline for the door...

"Technically, you're a force that no-one should be playing with. Remember, you're not strictly normal. We don't live in the normal world, we are outside it, the conventional rules don't apply."

"Rules of life and death still do, and you've played far too close to the line between the two."

"Actually, I thought I was playing on the far side, but that's not the point. I will do anything to keep you alive, I mean that."

"Maybe I don't want you to. I can look after myself. I don't need babysitting, unlike some people I could mention."

"I'm not saying you can't look after yourself, but what's wrong with a little backup. It only takes one mistake to lose it all."

"And it only takes one rash decision to get you killed!"

"It wasn't a rash decision, I considered it carefully....."

Amanda opened her mouth as if to reply, but then realised what her uncle had said. She paced around in silence for a moment, and then turned to him.
"You didn't think you were going to make it out, did you?"

Clayton looked at his niece, he'd hoped she'd never find out about this part, "I didn't expect to make it, I just did what I felt I had to. It was my choice, and I made it with full knowledge of what was likely to happen. I just couldn't let you go."

Amanda walked back towards the wall, and leant against it. After a moment, she still down the wall, and brought her knees up to her chest.
She spent a moment looking down at the floor, and then summoned the courage to look up at her Uncle, her eyes filled with tears.

"How could you do that?" The tears started to flow down her cheeks. "How....." Her voice trailed off.

Clayton walked over to where Amanda was lent and sat down next to her. Putting his arm around her, he said, "I just couldn't let you leave this world yet. You were too young." Tears started flowing down his cheeks, "I'd had a fair crack at life, something you hadn't. I was prepared to sacrifice myself for you that day, you deserve better than this. You deserve a real life, not the endless cycles of training I have forced you into. I know it's your destiny, but that doesn't mean I'm going to let it take you without a fight, even at the expense of my own life."

Amanda thought about pulling away, but felt herself leaning into her Uncle's embrace.
"You haven't forced me into anything, it's who I am. You just nurture that. I just can't believe...." She paused to try and regain some semblance of composure.

"Are you sure? I've been training you since you were 5 years old, since before the council had identified the potential within you. Sometimes I wonder if I made a mistake, if I should have let you go on with your life for longer." Clayton looked at Amanda, for all her strength, she looked so vulnerable and defenceless right now. "I just need to keep you safe, I can't help that."

"If you hadn't started preparing me so early I wouldn't be as good as I am now. You gave me the best opportunity to do as much as I can before.... before it has to end."

"I know it has to..... end, but I want to put that off as long as possible. You deserve that much from me, and I owe you so much, especially after what happened. I know it must have been really hard on you, and I'm sorry to have put you through it."

"It was hard. I had to lie to my family... the people I care about most in this whole stupid world." Amanda turned to look at Clayton. "I never want to have to do that again. I don't want you using that stuff any more. That's what led to it all. And.... I thought was going to lose you..."

"I'm sorry I put you through it, I really am. But I can't promise never to use it again. I can't promise because I won't break a promise to you, and if your life is threatened, I'd do the same thing again. Tonight I turned round to see you pinned to the floor, being choked. You were slowly turning purple. My crossbow wasn't loaded, I couldn't get there in time to stake him. I can't lose you that way. If there was an alternative to the magick, I'd have used it, I just couldn't see one, and I wasn't going to risk you slipping away from me."

"I had it under control. You panicked... you can't afford to do that." She tried to summon a small smile. "You taught me that."

A smile came to Clayton's face, "Yeah, I did teach you that didn't I. I'm sorry Amanda, I guess I should take some of my own lessons." Clayton hugged Amanda tighter, "you must admit, it was quite a show," he said jokingly.

"It was certainly an experience. You can't afford to do stuff like that." She sighed. "You know I hate it. After last time...."

"I'm trying not to use this stuff, I know how much you hate it. I never want to put you through anything like I did last time again, but I can't promise never to use the knowledge and skills I have. The best I can do is offer my promise that I'll only use them as a last resort, when there is no other option for any of us."

Clayton knew this wasn't what Amanda wanted to hear, but he was trying to be honest, he owed her that.

"Come on, fraggle," Clayton said, using the nickname he'd had for Amanda since she was born, "Let's get back and check those two haven't destroyed the place".

"They've probably broken something!" Amanda slowly got up, and saw the damage to the door. "Or maybe that's just me!" She said with a wry smile, offering a helping hand up to her Uncle.
"You promise..... you promise you'll try? You know I still won't be happy if you do, but I'll try and understand, just don't.... don't do anything stupid.. please? I need you to guide me through this! I need you..."

Accepting Amanda's hand, Clayton got to his feet. "I'll try my best, and I've got the best niece in the world to help me. We'll get through it. I promise."

Clayton turned to head towards the main room.

Amanda smiled, and took Clayton's hand as they walked back to the main room together.

Hurrah the slush ha passed and we can return to the action…

In the kitchen the phone on the wall started ringing.

Simon walked back into the room looking rather sheepish...He signalled the door to woodrof and then mimed a fight...The phone was ringing, so he answered it.. "'ello! Carlisle Castle, Curators H'office..."

"I'd like to speak to Amanda Please." The voice said in a local accent.

Clayton and Amanda walked back into the room, both their faces red and blotchy from tears. Clayton forced a smile and said, "So, what are you reprobates up to?"

"Just bear with me a moment please..." Simon cupped the mouth piece in his hand

"Amanda, you got a phone call me dear..." He took another look at her legs as he handed the phone to her...

Amanda took a deep breath before speaking, she knew her voice was likely to waiver after what had just happened in the study. "Hello..."

"Hello Amanda" came the familiar voice of Banks. "I really must thank you,” He said waiting for a response his voice suddenly full of contempt.

Amanda's face suddenly became deadly serious. "What for?"

There came a chuckle from Banks "Tonight’s entertainment of course, wasn't that little wild goose chase a bit of a giggle."

Banks giggled again. "But I mainly called to say thanks for dusting those Vamps, they were trying to muscle in on my patch, I must say you've done me a great favour."

"I was doing my job, nothing more."

"Yes well it makes my life a little easier. Though I must say you looked awfully angry at your watcher after his little firework display.

Though at one point I actually thought that meat headed cockney was actually going to strangle you. which would have been a shame seeing as how much I want to kill you." Banks said but was almost drowned out by the sound of a scream in the background.

"'Cos I was actually going to let a feeble little thing like him kill me. I think not!"

The screams in the background seemed to get louder and more frantic.

"Would you excuse me for one second?" Banks said there was a short pause where the screams turned to sobbing pleads of not to die.

Then there was a sickening snap and the screams and sobbing stopped.

"You were saying?" Banks said coming back on the telephone.

"Nothing!" Amanda forced a nonchalant sigh.

There was a disturbing slurping noise,

"Ahh yes I know why I phoned." Banks said, " I wanted to inform you I still have your stake and crossbow bolt. See the thing is I need a favour, and basically your gonna do it for me our I do plant this evidence.

I need you to be in the park before dawn. If you’re not there or late I'll kill the first people I meet." The was another slurp

"And Amanda do you want those deaths on your conscious? like the death of this tasty morsel I found at the cathedral? You were very nearly late for that, that’s why I only took one person."

"I'll miss out on my beauty sleep!" Amanda said, sarcastically.

The slurping was getting louder

"Yes well lets make it a bus of school children if you fail to turn up or are late or try any crap when you get here."

With That Banks hung up the phone.

Amanda put down the phone, and gave her Uncle a look he had seen too many times before.

Clayton saw the look on Amanda's face, "problems?" he asked.

"Banks. He wants me in the park before dawn or he's going to plant the evidence. " She sighed. "And there could be some casualties, possibly a whole coachful of them." Amanda really wasn't in the mood for games, tonight had been eventful enough as it was.

"Damn, just when we could all do with some sleep." Clayton felt physically drained, spellcasting followed by the confrontation with Amanda had really taken it out of him. "Anyone know when dawn is tomorrow?"

"Sleep is always a good idea, but seems fairly optional at the moment. As for dawn........ yuh...."

Simon finished his 3rd extra strong vat of coffee...

"Well, I did offer you guys coffee. I'm still wide awake and alert....We’ve got a park to get to..."

For the 3rd time this evening, Simon shacked up his crossbow, ready to spank some Vamps...

"Calm down, Simon, we can't just rush in to these things, it leads to bad things." He looked over at Amanda as he said this. "Amanda, did he give any more details? And did you realise he was at the cathedral? He planted those notes after we arrived."

"Great, he got to see me making a fool of myself. That group of vamps wasn't his, I know that now....
We haven't got time to mess about." Amanda was obviously still in a fragile emotional state. "A coachload of schoolchildren are depending on us..... If I'm not there in time, or if Banks thinks I'm planning anything... he's going to kill them all."

Meanwhile, in Plymouth, the Watcher Nathaniel Butterworth picks up the phone and dials Clayton's number

Clayton answers the phone while the others discuss the plans…

"Good evening, Carlisle castle, Clayton Johnson speaking." Clayton wondered who could be phoning at this time of night. And he still had a headache.

"Hello Clayton, Nathaniel here. I have that information you wanted."

Clayton reached down his notepad and a pen, hopefully Nathanial would have come up with something. "Thankyou, kind sir. So, what do we know about our friend Banks?"

"Emily says she turned Banks in the summer of '68.
She says she found him a bit nuts. I'm quoting here. The impression I had from talking to her is that Banks if intelligent, but mentally unstable with a twisted sense of humour. She says he had as much fun hunting people as killing them. Sounds a little bit like the stories about Angelus.
She wasn't able to give me anymore. I suspect she does know more, but is either unwilling, apathetic or forgetful. It could be any. If I find out anymore I will let you know.
Good luck.

Clayton jotted down the information as he heard it.

"Thanks for the information, Hope to see you around." Clayton hung up the phone and rubbed his eyes. This really wasn't looking good. A mentally unstable vampire, with a taste for slayers had lured them here. The sudden rise in activity can't have been an accident, it's a plan. Clayton shuddered at the thought. As he headed to the main room, he wondered how much he should tell Amanda.

Back to the war council…

Clayton returned from answering the phone with a worried look on his face. As he saw Amanda, he forced a smile. "So, are we making a move again?" He asked.

Kanyk scuttles sideways through the door, carrying a tray laden with cups, and a pot of sweet-smelling herbal tea.

"Something refreshing after all that excitement?" He smiles slightly, "The tea is rather invigorating, if you get my drift..." And then proceeds to pour a cup for everyone.

"You especially could use it, my friend." Giving a steaming cup to the semi-conscious looking Woodrof.

Clayton saw kanyk basically appear from nowhere. This didn't really surprise him. "Kanyk, I take it there is no trace of us at the cathedral now."

"Nothing that that smelly man and I could find. Smelly though he is, he would make a good detective." Kanyk passes a cup of tea to Clayton, with a sly grin.

"You may know the taste, though it was a long time ago when last you drank this blend."

He hands out the other two cups, to Amanda and to Simon, with a nod of his head to each. 

"Selwin is around here somewhere, I avoided him on the way back, the smell..." He shivers.

Clayton sipped the tea and smiled, it certainly was a long time since he had tasted this. Mind you, it would clear his head nicely. He would have to get the recipe again.

"Ok, note to self, have word with selwin about hygiene. I trust you received my message properly and had a good trip here." He looked around, he hoped Amanda didn't work out the method of contact, she wouldn't understand it.

"I was in the area actually," He chuckles to himself, "I was at peace, in the park. Not far from here." He pulls a mobile phone out of his pocket, "I will never get used to these things." He grins at Clayton.

He takes a long sip of his tea, and smiles, "Ah, if that isn't the best thing I've ever tasted.... my mother was a vampire."

Clayton grinned at him, trust Kanyk to sense his anxiety. At least he could avoid having that conversation with Amanda today. Clayton began to fill Kanyk in on what was now going on.

"So, what do we know?" Kanyk sat down on an antique armchair, somehow making it look new, or at least, not as old as the thing sat in it.

"Basically, mad vampire with a taste for slayers. Is currently threatening to kill a busload of school children if we don't show in the park before dawn, but we're not sure why."

"Tricks and traps, and a war of the mind. Is this one clever? or just a little more than mad?"

Kanyk's brow furrows in thought. "Still, it can only be a trap, this is a vampire we're dealing with, there is always a trap with a vampire." He nods, "And the first step in avoiding a trap is knowing of its existence, hmm..."

"Apparently, he is clever, but also as mad as a spoon. Still, at least we have some idea of what he's doing."

"Doing?" Kanyk inclines his head, "He already has an obvious goal, I suppose, the girl.. umm, Amanda, I mean. Its always the slayers..."

Kanyk has Clayton outline recent events to him, inciting a thoughtful pause from the shaggy demon.

"I can be our eyes and ears in the park, no vampire will smell me as anything other than trees, and leaves... nor see me, unless he's close, and staring rite at me. The benefits of life at one with the living forces."

"Sounds good to me." Clayton turned to Amanda, "So, what time do you want to head there?"

"Head where?"
Selwin stepped into the room, thought the door this time. He found it easier than the window.
"The door was open."

Pepek felt like he would be sick in a moment. And unpleasant memories came... He being sick on another Clayton's rug and Clayton hunting him down the Carlisle with a bowcaster. Well better make sure nothing like that happened.
Woodrof managed to get himself out and stumbled around street in front the house until he could hold it no longer.
*When did I have eggs?* he wandered.
But as dirty deed was finished his head felt empty. That was known and pleasant feeling. He kept walking... and walking... and more walking until he found a nice little bench... good thing alcohol never stayed in his system long... he was already feeling haze leaving and headache coming.

Amanda thought for an instant. "We could really do with knowing when dawn is. I don't want to be late, god knows what he might do. If we don't know when we have to be there for, then it's kinda hard to judge when to leave!"

Woodroff goes for some fresh air…

A figure moved silently from the bushes, he'd followed the man sat on the bench from the castle, he knew exactly who he was.

"Woodroff Pepek, what other idiot stumbles around my streets drunk."

Pepek turned to source of the voice. Alcohol daze broken in a moment.
"Your streets? Listen you..." Pepek became quite aware that person talking did not breathe.
"Blood sucker ha?" Pepek prepared some of his spells and hoped nothing worse from bad fridge would come to him.

The Vampire grabbed him roughly by the shoulders clamping Pepek's arms to his side, "Now why would you want to go and do something silly like that Pepek? We both know as a mage your not particulary good."

"Anyway I'm here on business, I've fed tonight." The vampire said as he moved into enough light so Pepek could see who he was not that his 7 foot stature didn't give him away

“Ahh you are Emily's kid no?"
He laughed.
"What kind of buisness, I am already dead and we both know it."
Pepek wandered do vampires still hurt if you hit them in between thighs...

"Don't ever mention that name in front of me, and which cur in the Currock have you been talking to?" Banks said as he tightened his grip.

"You mage owe me money, and it's time to pay it back." Banks said grinning, the blood from his last 'meal' still on his lips.

Pepek ran a list of debtors in his head. It took a while since it was not a short list... he even had some royalty there. But he came to a conclusion... "I owe you nothing!" But then noticed blood and squealed

"But I could use few pounds if you have..." He managed a small smile

Banks pulled a piece of paper from his pocket unfolding it and revealing an IOU signed by Woodroff for £750.

"This piece of paper tells me that you do owe me allot of money and the interest I charge is a nightmare." Banks said grinning and placing the IOU back in his pocket.

"There are a lot of people in this city who work for me, demons Vampires and humans. Perhaps considering your position you should be more careful who you borrow money from." Banks said waiting to see the look on Pepek's face.

Pepek found that entire thing fishy... 750 pounds... he didn't see that kind of money in... never actually.
"Ok I'll bite." he regretted his choice of words instantly. "What do you want from me?"

"Payment Pepek, here and now." Banks said his patience growing thin.

Banks looked surprised, "Really I would have never guessed that." He lied, it was common knowledge in around certain circles in the city that Pepek never had any money.

"Hmmmm I could kill you, but, no. Now you owe me, and I own you. Yes that suits me much better." Banks said.

Pepek paled... he knew what it meant... him against his friends, he could live with that... and then images flew by... just how many times did he owe his life to pretty slayer... just how much money he owed to Clayton. "No deal."

Banks stopped the playful banter and became very serious. "My dear fellow there are things a 1000 times worse death, and I know them all, and I could do them all to you. There is only one deal my deal."

“What do you want of me?" Pepek was scared shitless but he was not about to betray his friends.

Banks glanced at his watch, and looked back at Pepek, "I have to be going. But we will talk again and soon."

Before banks let go of the frightened mage he passed a final warning. "And I really wouldn't go telling your friends about this little meeting, I mean how disappointed would they be to know your in serious debt to me of all people. Also if you tell them then I enforce the 1000 things worse than death."

With that Banks was gone, he disappeared into the darkness leaving only Pepek sat on the bench.

The Castle grounds…

Clayton saw Woodruff looking decidedly green, then run out of the room. He heard Amanda's comments, and responded, "Well, lets get a plan. Simon, you look up when the dawn is due. Amanda, get your kit together. I'll go and check on Woodruff, he looked a little rough," Clayton left the room.

Amanda paused for a moment, thinking about what she might need, but her mind was wandering. "We need to know when dawn is asap, okay?"
Taking a deep breath, she followed her Uncle. On current form there was a possibility there could be something 'interesting' out there, and he was less likely to do something stupid if she was there looking over his shoulder.

As they both went outside they couldn't see any sign of Woodroff or where he may have gone. But protruding from one of the bushes a 100 feet from the castle they saw a leg.

Clayton tapped Amanda on the shoulder and pointed at the leg. "Looks like someone has left us a present." He pulled his crossbow from underneath his jacket.......

"Great!" Amanda sighed. "That's all we need." She pulled a stake from under her jacket, and started slowly moving towards the bush.

Acting cautiously, Clayton moves to check out the leg, partly to see whether it's still attached to anything. He was getting irritated with these games now, if this guy wanted to play, he'd chosen the wrong person. He moved to examine the body.

As her uncle examined the leg, Amanda scanned around to see if there was any evidence that someone else was there, or any sign that someone else had been there recently.

Attached to the leg was a body of a young woman, about the same age as Amanda. From just looking at her they could tell her neck had been broken and there were tell tale bite marks indicating Vampire involvement.

Clayton froze as he looked at the body, he knew it wasn't true, but all he could see was Amanda laying there. How could anyone be so cruel as to rob someone of their young life as part of his game? The girl was so young, he hated the mind games, this wasn't fun. He was going to find him, and shut him down.

Selwin bored with the inane banter inside stepped out to see what was going on.
He noticed Clayton looking at something, so he wandered over to see.
"Nasty. Our friends handy work?"
Selwin pulled off a glove, then a fingerless glove and slipped his hand inside her blouse to check her temperature.

Amanda finished scanning around, and went over to where her Uncle was. Glancing at the body, she sighed. "Another message? I tell you, when I get my hands on this guy..."

The body was still warmish, selwin estimated she'd been dead less than half an hour.

Clayton looked at the body, then at Amanda. He tried to judge the reaction on her face. He then looked around for any other evidence or clues.

Other than the body showing the tell tall signs of being drained by a Vampire, there was nothing except for two extremely large foot prints in the dirt, someone had been stood there. And Clayton realised that from here he could see both the kitchen and his own office really well, a great vantage point for someone who wanted to spy on them.

Clayton visibly paled as he realised just how closely Banks was stalking them, or more specifically, stalking Amanda. Thoughts swirled round his brain, but he pushed them back down, after all, he'd promised Amanda he wouldn't do anything stupid. He had to come up with something to protect her, He would do anything to protect her. "So, what should we do about her, we can't afford to have the police here again....."

"True. There's the possibility of moving her, but then there's also the possibility of getting caught doing it. " Amanda sighed. "I don't know.... But I do know we can't afford to take the risk of getting to the park late. This isn't going to happen again, if I have anything to do with it!"

Clayton listened to what Amanda had said, he knew she was right, someone had to go and meet Banks, but they couldn't just leave the body here. "Ok, here's what were gonna do. Amanda, you stay here and help the others deal with the body, I'll go and see Banks. After all, it's you he wants, not me." Clayton could guess what Amanda's reaction to this plan was going to be, but He wasn't letting her go Alone. She'd be safe here, and he could handle himself.

Amanda glared at her uncle. What the hell did he think he was doing? "He told me to be there, not you." She started walking away. "I'm going, we don't know when dawn is, and I'm not going to be late! Deal with her. I'll call if there's a problem."

"But if you're going, so am I. I'm not letting you face him alone. I still think that the best idea is for you to stay here." Clayton put away his crossbow again. There was no way he was going to let his niece face a psychotic vampire who'd been stalking her on her own. "Do you trust Simon to deal with the body satisfactorily? It makes sense for you to stay here."

"No, I don't particularly trust Simon to deal with the body, which is why you should stay here and help!" Amanda's voice was gradually getting louder. "He asked for me." She sighed. "I can deal with this!"

"I'm not staying here, with or without you, I'm going. This has to end, Banks needs to be stopped." Clayton looked at Amanda, "I have an edge over you, he doesn't know everything about me......"

"Who's to say was he knows and what he doesn't. He's been watching us for God knows how long." Amanda stated slowly walking back towards Clayton. " Come if you like, let the others botch up disposing of the body, so we all get arrested, I don't care!"

"You're just giving reasons why you should stay here. Banks hasn't seen much of me, I keep my skills hidden." Clayton wondered whether Amanda had any idea what he was planning. "If you come, I'll worry about you. Stay here where you're safe. Please."

"Safe doesn't come with the job description, you know that. You may keep your skills hidden, but, seeing as you don't use them anymore, that's fairly irrelevant, so you may as well stay here!"

"Not happening," Clayton replied, "I'm going."

"Excuse me. I hate to interrupt this touching seen of family love, but this is not the time. We have two problems. Psycho vampire and her. Now Clayton, she is right, you go alone you get your arse kicked. You may have something special, but she is the slayer. You young lady, you go alone and this piece of, well something, adds a Slayer to his mantelpiece. He is not playing by the rules, so why should we? The girl, we phone the police anonymously and we all troop off to the park.
Hide in the bushes and see what happens.
This loony is bright and he will expect everyone, so we have to work out a way to take the initiative away from him, but going alone is not the way.
Does this make sense?"
Selwin looked at them expectantly.

Amanda walked up close to her Uncle. "They need you here." She said softly, with an expressionless gaze. Calling on her Slayer speed to make sure he couldn't stop her, she thrust her right fist at her Uncle's head. If he was unconscious, then he wasn't going anywhere!

Clayton looked into Amanda eyes, and saw the aggression, he saw her fist begin to move. As his eyes changed to solid black, he reached his hand forward and spoke in measure tones. "Separate"......

Before Clayton could finish the spell Amanda's fist struck him full force on the chin sending him sprawling. He hit the ground hard, but seeing as how the blow had knocked him out he didn't feel it.

Selwin looked down at Clayton.
"Clayton are you listening?" Selwin looked at Amanda.
 
"If this is the way you treat family, remind me never to marry your sister. And you made me waste my best Watcher speech in years." Selwin bent over Clayton and looked up at Amanda. "I'll never remember all that. Not at my age "
 
Dipping his hand in his pocket, he pulled out a sock and waved it under Clayton's nose.

Clayton didn't stir. He was completely out for the count, and there was a large bruise already forming on his face. Amanda hadn't pulled that punch.

Selwin looked at Amanda. "Well done you lady. One more problem. Now if you would be so good as to help me carry him inside. If a nosy police car drives by, we will have a lot of explaining to do." Selwin grabbed his shoulders.

Amanda emotionlessly helped carry Clayton inside, and then she gathered everyone together in the main room of the castle.
"Okay." She sighed slightly. "This is what we're going to do. Simon, you and...." She gestured at Kanyk "You deal with the body. I don't particularly care what you do with it, just get it away from here, and make sure she can't be traced back. Ideally no shallow graves, that might arouse a bit of suspicion!"
Pausing, she turned to look at Selwin. "You and I are going to the park, but you stay out of my way, and.... try not to smell too much!"

Amanda still regarded Selwin very much as an unknown quantity. He claimed that he used to be a Watcher, and so should know how to handle himself around vampires, and if he didn't stab her in the back, she would feel that she could trust him... to a degree.
As for the mysterious new arrival, Amanda had not idea who he was, or what he was doing there, but she had better things to do that question him. Her Uncle seemed to trust him, and that would have to be good enough for now.

Gathering a few stakes, and straightening her jacket, Amanda headed for the door. She turned and looked back at Selwin. "Are you coming then?"
 

Kanyk looked down at the unconscious Clayton, moving so his actions were shielded from view, he placed his hands to either side of Clayton's head, a look of concentration of his face...

Turning to the others... "Who did this?"

Selwin checked through his pockets to make sure he had everything. Turning to Amanda he winked and said, "Don't worry, I'll stand down wind from you" He nodded to the others as he left.

Clayton moaned but didn't wake up, perhaps the fact that was because he'd already worn himself out using magic and having the heart to heart with Amanda.

Kanyk's healing hands seemed to some good, as Kanyk laid his hands on he could feel Clayton's jaw had been broken.

He didn't seem in any obvious pain, but when he woke up he would have one hell of a headache and a sore face. It was probably best to let him sleep now.

Ignoring Kanyk's question, Amanda went through the door, and headed to the park

"Time to do something about that unfortunate girl, lets go. I have no idea what we're going to do with her, mind you." Kanyk scratched his bewhiskered chin thoughtfully.

After much Chin strokage, and another cup of coffee, Simon had finally decided what to do with the; by now fly covered, corpse.

"We'll bury her!" He exclaimed, clearly under the influence of too much caffeine. He grinned at Kanyk, to a half snarled half smiled expression in reply...

Simon rummaged around in Clayton's personal effects, blissfully searching for a shovel...After about 45minutes, he found one, wedged between a cupboard and a bookshelf, covered in cobwebs. Simon winced at the thought of spiders. He didn't fear much, but the one thing he loathed in all the world were Arachnids...

Simon wandered outside over to the young corpse, brandishing the shovel over his shoulder looking pleased with his find.

Lets all go to the park…

They had walked through the park for about 15 minutes, they had yet to find anyone. However as the approached the playground in the park Amanda felt the familiar feeling that told her a Vampire was near-by. Amanda stopped dead, and gestured at Selwin, to get his attention. "We've got a friend around here somewhere!" She whispered, whilst drawing a stake from under her jacket.

"All we have to do is find him!" She scanned around, looking for anything unusual.

She saw him, he was sat in plain enough view. It was hard to miss Banks, the fact he was seven foot and built like a house made it hard for him to hide.

He was sat swinging on a swing, and she could hear he was humming to himself. Amanda recognised the tune, it was 'I'm forever blowing bubbles'.

Amanda could see that in one hand he held a cigarette with he took occasional drag of as he swung. In the other hand he held something that Amanda could see was long thin and metal.

There was also the glint of something shinny and metal under his jacket.

Amanda turned to Selwin. "Keep behind me, and don't do anything stupid. There's already been enough of that for a while!" Sighing slightly, she hid the stake up the sleeve of her jacket, and walked towards the figure on the swing.

Amanda made sure that Banks noticed her, but stopped walking about three meters from where Banks was sitting.

"You wanted to see me?" Her voice was a virtual monotone.

Selwin slipped his hands into his pockets and gripped his weapons securely. He followed Amanda, a couple of yards back. He was quite happy to let her take the lead. He knew he could take most vampires on. Hell, he had been fighting them before this girl was even born, but one look at this brute told him it would be suicide.
 
After Meavanwe's death, he had often though to taking the easy way out, but that old adage of becoming a civil servant in hell, stopped him. Well actually a stubborn streak stopped him, but the hell thing made a funnier story. He was quite content to just stand there and support the Slayer.

"Amanda!" Banks said as if greeting an old friend. He stopped swinging.

Now he'd stopped swing Amanda could see he was holding a shotgun. He took another drag of his cigarette.

"I honestly didn't think you would come. I thought you were smarter than that. Come on Amanda where on earth would I find a school bus before it gets light?" He said grinning.

"You seem pretty resourceful, I figured you'd come up with something inspiring." Amanda looked Banks in the eye. "So, why did you want me here anyway?"

Banks grinned, "Really you think I'm resource full?" He flicked his cigarette but at Amanda.

"Well Amanda I wanted to meet you face to face, and I must say, you’re prettier than the last Slayer I killed."

He looked across at Selwin, "who's he your boyfriend? I actually expected you to bring your dear old uncle."

Amanda turned to Selwin. "That..... is not my boyfriend. He's just along for the ride." She turned back to Banks. "As for the other thing... I guess I'll take that as a compliment!"

"You should but as I always say the real test of a Slayer is in the tasting." he said and licked his lips. "Why don't you come closer Amanda, come play on the swings."

"I'm fine here thank you. I got past the swing stage a while ago."

Banks gave a sad smile, "That’s the trouble with you Slayers you grow up way too fast. It must be hard having your watcher be your uncle, the last Slayer I killed her Watcher actually led me to the safe house where his Slayer was staying, I tortured him for days, and told him I would spare his life if he gave me his Slayer. He folded quicker than an origami champion."

Banks gazed wistfully for a moment. "I lied of course. But then so did he, least to his Slayer, he said he would always protect her." Banks laughed.

"And your point is?" Amanda remained expressionless, even though several unpleasant thoughts had entered her head.

Banks paused and looked coldly through Amanda enough to make her shiver. "History repeats it's self."

"Not always."

Banks smiled, "I really wouldn't bet on that Amanda, people will do anything to stop you torturing them, even give up the ones they love."

"I don't remember saying that they wouldn't. But saying that history repeats itself is a fairly sweeping statement."

"True it's a sweeping statement, but well you'll get the joke eventually, probably right before you die. Or your watcher does. Is he the stubborn type?" Banks asked seemingly changing the subject.

"It depends what mood he's in. but what has he got to do with anything? It's me you wanted here." Amanda hoped that Banks didn't notice her growing concern for her uncle. But if Banks was here then he couldn't be going after Clayton at the same time... could he..?

"Is that fear I can sense little Slayer." Banks said smiling, "Fear makes the blood so much sweeter, perhaps I won't kill first after all, making a watcher watch the demise of his Slayer is I admit amusing but, what would you say if I made you watch uncle dearest die horribly." Banks said, he was having fun, he could tell she was scared, he glanced at his watch, the deed was done. He probably should go... but mental torture was almost as fun as the rest of it.

Amanda steeled herself. She couldn't let him know what was praying on her mind. She stood up to her full height (which admittedly wasn't that much). "I don't do fear anymore, it would hinder me in kicking the ass of vampires that cross my path."

"Amanda I can sense fear, it's a vampric skill and you fear me and you fear for watcher, which considering... oh never mind forget I said that." Banks said grinning as he let it slip.

"What?" Amanda said forcefully.

"Forget I said anything." Banks said trying to hide his glee.

He glanced at his watch, "Oh look," me made a mock yawn, "Past my bed time I really must run."

"Oh and Amanda dearest please don't think about staking me in the back." Banks undid his coat to reveal a shinny metal breastplate.

"It's an inch think, and it really won't work, and keep lover boy at bay, he smells funny." Banks said as he started to walk off.

Amanda glared after Banks, and waited until he was out of sight before heading back to the castle at speed. She needed to check that her uncle was okay.

Time for Gardening… Simon style…

Still brandishing his shovel, Simon shields his eyes with his hand as though he were looking a long distance. He turned his head around and about scanning the landscape for somewhere to bury her...

Despite the hyper-twitchiness of his mind, he was still thinking relatively clearly...
"I need to find somewhere with soft earth" He muttered under his breath. He stroked his chinwig again...

The Castle has quite open plan grounds this end, but it also had flower beds that had been recently cleared for the winter, leaving large open spaces of earth.

Simon continued to scan the surrounding area...

"I spy with my little eye, something beginning with freshly turned turf, perfick for corpse disposal!"

He continued scanning, no longer for a burial site, but now to check he was alone....

There was no one about, the grounds keeper didn't leave his hut at the other end of the castle grounds till after 11am, when he'd finished his paper.

At this point, Simon realised he had a problem...

How was he going to drag a corpse, and carry the shovel??? He resorted to chin stroking. An epiphone almost painfully struck him...He grabbed one of the corpses arms, and dragged her behind him, a grisly sight, but it didn't bother him any more.

He dragged the poor young girl as close to the building as he could, onto the upturned dirt, which had been beautifully planted months earlier.

He dropped her hand, swung the shovel over his shoulder, and made his first imprint into the earth.

As usual in Carlisle it had been raining so the earth was soft and easy to dig, after about half an hour he had a hole that was about 6foot deep. Again he briefly stopped to look around for unwanted attention...

It was still dead, mainly 'cos it was still pretty dark. He went back to digging missing the two figures dragging something over one of the walls.

Simon wiped the sweat from his forehead, downed his shovel, and grabbed the corpse by the feet...

"Alley oop" he said as he pushed the body in to the grave he had dug. A loud cracking of bones and god-knows-what else was to be heard of the limp mass of flesh dropped...

"I'm hungry. “He rubbed his belly. He hadn't eaten for days, surviving only on very strong coffee and cigarettes. "I'd best get this hole filled up first though" He resumed his laborious job of shifting dirt...

Look Amanda is back from the park!

The sun was definitely coming up by the time Amanda and Selwin returned to the Castle. They had pretty much run all the way back.

It was quiet obviously the others were still out on burial detail. As Amanda entered the study she stopped dead where she had left her uncle to come round was now a body bag with a note pinned to it.

Amanda apprehensively looked at the note.

The note read:

"Have you lost something Amanda?

Perhaps you should find it before it gets damaged or dead. Sorry I wasn't there to see the look on his face... but I was playing on the swings in the park.

B "

Taking a deep breath, Amanda opened the body bag. "Please..." she whispered.

The bag wasn't empty, though it didn't contain her uncle, in fact it didn't contain anything human only a shop dummy.

Amanda collapsed onto the floor. "Thank god" she whispered. After a few moments she found the courage to search the castle for her uncle.

There was no sign of him anywhere, and no sign of where someone may have taken him either.

Amanda slammed her fist into the nearest wall. How could she have let this happen? Banks had distracted her whilst he had instructed someone to take her Uncle. And it was her fault... Amanda reached deep inside, and steeled herself. Reacting like this wasn't going to find her Uncle, and that had to be her priority. The wall had been surprisingly hard, and she shook her hand to try and ease the stinging.

Where could Banks have taken him? "Come on girl, messing about like this is not going to help!" She muttered to herself. Deciding to go to the Currock, to see if Debbie had heard anything, she headed for the door. Selwin could follow if he wanted, but Amanda didn't care, she had to find her Uncle, and quickly. Everyone else would have to fend for themselves.

Back in the garden..

He filled the hole quite quickly. But it was close to 9am by the time he finished the job and as he looked up he saw Amanda storm out of the castle. He didn't even see she'd come back.

Once he'd seen Amanda storm out, he slung the shovel back onto his shoulder, and ran towards where she had been standing... He saw Selwin shamberling after her.

As Simon looked toward where Amanda had come from he saw Clayton's office door open, but Clayton was no longer in there, where he'd been left to sleep off the effects of getting decked by Amanda. Instead there was a body bag with a shops dummy hanging out of it.

Suddenly Simon sprung out his caffeine induced Zombiefication, and realised something was damn wrong. He ran inside...Where was Kanyk?...Where was Clayton? He grabbed a crossbow...

There always seemed to be crossbows lying around Clayton's office, but as he picked it up he noticed the letter left by Banks.

Telling him where Clayton was and why Amanda had stormed out.

As for Kanyk, there was no sign of him

Simon grabbed the note, and read it aloud. "Shit. That would be why Amanda was so pissed.... I guess I'm screwed then. I dunno where anyone is, and I'm hungry."

Simon went to the Kitchen, set down his crossbow, and started to make a sandwich... "Mmmm Marmite" He thought...

Back to the Currock…

Amanda walked in with a face like thunder. It was obvious that the Slayer wasn't happy. She went up to the bar, and tried to calm herself down a bit. Being this angry wasn't going to help her Uncle any more than her previous indecisive state was.

Debbie was behind the bar, the Currock seemed to be open 24/7 yet no one had ever questioned its licence.

"What's wrong pet?" Debbie asked concerned, the Slayer looked more than upset, and she didn't normally come in during the day, let alone come in without her uncle.

Amanda pretended that she was fine, but knew she wasn't going to be convincing anyone with her facade.
"Bad day at the office!" She replied. Well, it had been, but quite how bad, she wasn't willing to let on.
"Just wondering if you'd heard anything new about this Banks character." Amanda went to lean indifferently on the bar, but her elbow landed so loudly, she could bet that everyone sitting in the bar had turned and looked at her.
Looking a little embarrassed, Amanda let her arms fall by her sides.
"So, any news?"

Debbie saw through it in an instant, Amanda may have been a good Slayer but she was a rotten liar.

"It's always a bad day at the office when Banks is bloody involved. And where's Clayton pet? I've not seen you in here with out him like." Debbie said probing for information to see what might hit a nerve.

Amanda made a conscious effort not to let her expression change, despite the images of her uncle that were flooding through her mind. What Banks could be doing to him..... If anyone else found out what had really happened, things would only get worse.
"He's hitting the books, and when he gets going, there's no stopping him!" Amanda forced an unconvincing smile.

Debbie shook her head, "Right come with me," Debbie said lifting a flap on the bar. Things were quiet at this time in the morning so leaving the bar wasn't a problem, if someone/thing came in one of her regulars would serve them.

Debbie motioned for the Slayer to follow her, "Come with me we'll have a cup of tea and you can stop telling me tales."

Amanda sighed, she didn't have time for tea and niceties, but she followed Debbie anyway. If she couldn't help, Amanda didn't know where else to go.

Debbie shook her head, Amanda was even more stubborn than her uncle, but then again he did have an excuse, he was a Watcher and she yet to meet one of those who wasn't stuffy to the core.

"So do you want to tell me exactly what’s going on? And exactly what that idiot Banks has been up to this time?" She said as she put the kettle on.

"The more you tell me pet the more I maybe able to help."

Amanda sighed. A large part of her was screaming that she shouldn't tell anyone, but Debbie seemed trustworthy enough.
"Banks is stalking me. Phone calls, bodies dumped at my doorstep. And now..." She paused, summoning all her inner strength so that she could actually finish her sentence. "Now he's taken my Uncle."

"Oh Bloody hell pet, no wonder your upset. When did this happen?" Debbie asked putting a mug of tea in front of Amanda, and sitting down.

"I told Clayton he was trouble and to keep away from him. And as for Banks the minute I knew he found out there was a Slayer in town I warned him to stay away. That bloody boy never listens, never has never will." Debbie said almost angry.

"The best advice I can give you Amanda is get the hell out of this city, it's not safe for you. But I know you won't leave your Uncle, and I can't blame you." Debbie shuddered she remembered the last Slayer that came to Carlisle, and remembered Banks gloating to her about the state in which she left.

Selwin entered the pub and walked up to the bar. Muttering under his breath about people running everywhere and hasn't anyone heard of taking a long slow walk, he sank onto a bar stool. Sigh.
He looked around for someone to serve him.
No one. This day was going to be as bad as the last one he could tell. He REALLY needed a drink. No staff! How were they going to make any money and where the fudge has that Slayer got to.
Sighing again he stood up and wandered around behind the bar.
As he lifted up the hatched he noticed one of the punters stand up to stop him.
Selwin looked up at him and drew a nice shiny, SHARP knife.
"You don't want that much pain, my friend and I don't want that much aggro. All I want is a drink."

The "man" didn't stop him, Selwin carried on. Took a triple scotch and dropped some money on the till.
Selwin looked at his new "friend".
"Young girl came in just before me. See where see went?"

The guy hadn't wanted to get involved, he knew of the 'very bad things' anti-violence spell on the Currock. He for one didn't want to see if it was true, even if the old tramp did.

"Oh you mean the Slayer?" The guy said, "She's in the back with Debbie, they're chatting 'bout someit."

Amanda paused for a moment, intrigued by something Debbie had said. She stood up from her chair, and began pacing slightly.
"You know him?" Amanda said forcefully. "You know the sadistic bastard that's doing this?"

Debbie sighed, "Amanda calm down. Yes I know him, he's my twin brother, well he was in life."

"I'm Debbie Banks, and he is err was my brother Oliver Banks. This is probably the last thing you wanted to hear, considering what’s happened, but please understand no one would like to see my brother get his more than me." Debbie said honestly.

"I've been trying to sort out the messes he's been causing for the last 50 years." She added not sure if that would help the young Slayer any.

Amanda somehow managed to sit back on her chair, looking shocked.
"I.... I...." Amanda obviously had no idea how to respond. Taking a deep breath, she focussed herself again. More questions than she could ever voice came into her head.
"Well.... what happened to him? What was he like before? " Amanda's glance fell upon the floor. After a moment she looked up at Debbie, with a determined look in her eyes.
"Do you know where he's taken my Uncle?"

"Oliver has always been a nasty piece of work, ever since he was a small boy. When he got older my parents noticed he wasn't quite all there. That’s actually his redeeming feature, he'd be a lot worse if it wasn't for his madness. When he was 20 he met this Scottish woman, next thing bam! He's a Vampire, killed our parents, he tried to kill me but for some reason he couldn't." Debbie paused.

"So he taunts me, for what must be a similar reason I can't kill him, god help me I've tried, but I can't."

Debbie shook her head, "I'm sorry pet I don't know where he's hiding, though I know for sure he's not at his usual lair."

Amanda sighed, and ran her fingers through her hair.

"Where is his usual lair? Maybe there'd be some clue there... something to..." Her voice tailed off, and she began breathing heavily to help keep control.

Looking Debbie straight in the eye, she began to speak again. "I have to find him... I just have to!"

"His usual place is clean, even his heavy's are missing, I went looking for him last night, but he wasn't there. He usually hangs out in the basement of one of the abandon houses in the raffles estate." She told her.

"I've not heard anything about where he could be either pet, too many people in this city are scared of him. But the moment I hear anything I'll tell you."

Amanda forced a small smile.
"Thank you." She said sincerely. "I just don't know what to do... I can't help thinking that this is my fault."

"Aw pet it's not your fault, it's that crack pot brother of mine. He's nothing but bad news, I'm just sorry you've got caught up in the middle of all this." Debbie said giving the Slayer a hug, this city was nothing but bad news for any Slayer

Amanda appreciated the hug, in a strange way it was exactly what she needed. "You don't understand, maybe if I'd just let him go this wouldn't have happened, or I'd just talked him out of it rather than.... If Banks took anyone it should have been me, not him. Stuff like that is part of the path a Slayer has to walk, that's just how it is. But he.... he doesn't deserve this." Amanda had gradually been talking faster and faster until her words were barely distinguishable from one another.

Debbie could see she was more than just worked up over what Banks had done, "okay pet tell me from the beginning what happened. I'm guessing there is more to this than your telling me."

Amanda took a deep breath, and visibly steeled herself for what she was about to say. In many ways she didn't think that she should tell anyone what had happened, but part of her just needed someone to talk to. Normally she would turn to her Uncle, but that currently wasn't an option.
"Banks called me just after my uncle and I had a huge argument. He told me to meet him at the park, or he'd do... something. Clayton didn't want me to go, but I kinda felt the same about him. So... I made sure that he wasn't going anywhere." Amanda's gaze wandered around the room.
"By the time I got back, he was gone."

Debbie shook her head, "It was probably a good thing you weren't there. If my brother wanted your uncle out of the way you can guarantee he would have moved hell and high water to get him."

She thought for a moment, she wasn't sure what to say, she may have been his twin but most of time she couldn't even figure what Banks was up to.

"I don't think he's after your uncle directly, you'll probably not appreciate me telling you this but I think he's after you. But your uncle being a mage could have caused him problems, that maybe why he's taken him." Debbie said not sure if what she just said would scare the Slayer or calm her down.

Amanda's expression once again became one of anger. "If he wants me, why doesn't he just come and get me, and leave my family out of it?"

"Cos it's the way he is. He plays games, he likes the hunt almost as much as the kill." Debbie said though having this conversation with Amanda felt almost like deja view to 10 years ago.

"I can deal pretty calmly with some serious vampires, demons.. whatever, but he's making it personal." Amanda looked into Debbie's eyes. "I'm going to take him out. I swear I will. "

Debbie smiled weakly, "I wish you the best of luck then pet, I've seen others try and fail, even the last Slayer who was here. She was better than good, they fought solidly for 3 hours, and she didn't beat him." she warned, she didn't want her brother to claim another Slayer.

"If you go against him watch your back, he doesn't play fair."

"Who says I'm going to." Amanda then seemed to calm down a little, becoming slightly more like her usual self. "Look, thankyou. For listening, and... you know. Hanging around here isn't going to get my Uncle back though!"

"You'll go after him because you’re the Slayer, it's in yer blood girl." Debbie said trying to smile.

"If I hear anything on the grape vine about it I'll tell you. And if you just want to drop in for a chat, the this place is always open and I'm always here." She said drinking her own cup of tea.

Amanda summoned a small smile. "Thankyou. I'd appreciate anything you might hear. At the moment.... at the moment I have no idea where to start."

"Perhaps the best place to start is the castle." Debbie said realising they had been chatting for a couple of hours, and the bar would soon start to get busy.

"And Amanda if I were you I'd suggest you got your head down for a few hours, I doubt he'll try anything during the daylight hours he's not even that crazy."

"Maybe. It depends if he's left any more presents for me when I get back.
Amanda slowly got up and headed for the door, going back to the castle was probably a good idea, besides, she didn't have any others.
Just before leaving, she turned back to Debbie, smiled slightly, and then headed through the door.

The villain’s lair…

Clayton awoke in a darkened room, it was freezing cold, and damp. His head hurt as did his jaw. But most disturbing was the fact something inside and around him didn't feel right. Concentrating hard, Clayton searched for Amanda's aura. He hadn't even opened his eyes yet. He needed to know she was ok.

He couldn't feel her. Then he realised what it was that didn't feel right. He couldn't feel anything, least the magickal auras things had, as a mage he had always been able to feel the 'power' residing within everything and now that feeling was suddenly gone.

Clayton panicked inside. He couldn't feel anything. That also meant he couldn't cast anything. Opening his eyes, Clayton looked around the room.

It was dark, and somewhat cramped. It had a high almost Victorian ceiling and the room was damp and condensation ran down the walls taking flecks of green paint with it.

There was no carpet on the floor, but there was a small metal frame bed in one corner. Though it's sheets looked as if they hadn't been washed in an age and Clayton was sure at least on of the stains was blood. The room smelt of death, decay and urine.

A curse escaped Clayton's lips as he weighed up his situation. He tried to move from where he was laying He sat up and his head swam and he felt decidedly sick.

He attempted to move one leg and found he was chained to the bed, it was an old fashioned anklet on big thick piece of chain and attached by a new padlock around one leg of the bed. They all unfortunately looked solid

"Bugger", Clayton said. He started to weigh up his options. He had probably been taken by Banks while he was unconscious, and someone or something had removed his ability to spell cast. Clayton felt like someone had removed one of his senses, magick had been so much a part of him for so many years. He was chained to the bed, and he was fairly sure he couldn't break it. All he could do was wait for someone to come in, and hope he could do something then.

Clayton laid back down, sighing as he did so.

He could hear foot steps outside the door.

It swung open and the fluorescent light from the corridor nearly blinded him. The light was blocked by a silhouette in the doorway. Clayton tried to shield his eyes from the light, and looked at the figure again.

The figure had to be close on seven foot.

"Hello old bean." The figure said in a local accent. "You decided to wake up then, was a little worried you wouldn't." The figure said and pushed an enamel bowl in front of Clayton. "It's what you mortal lot call lunch time we thought you might want to eat."

Clayton looked into the bowl, wondering whether to eat food, provided by his captor.

The figure saw him looking at the dark coloured liquid. "It's quite safe. It's not drugged or poisoned. I suggest you eat you may be here a while."

"I'm not hungry right now. Let me guess. You're Banks, right?" Clayton said, trying to show no fear, "To be honest, I was expecting someone taller."

Banks laughed. "Very funny little man, but I'm not the one chained to the bed now am I."

"But yes your right I'm Banks. And You're Clayton Johnson member of the watchers council and uncle and guardian to the Slayer Amanda Johnson, and not forgetting mage."

"Speaking of that, how you feeling. And seeing as how you haven't set fire to me yet, your not feeling quite as well as you did early this evening."

"I haven't set fire to you yet, doesn't mean I can't" Clayton bluffed. "Ya know, I thought you were supposed to be smart, but this seems like the dumbest idea I've ever seen." Clayton could feel the bravado taking over again, he knew it probably wasn't wise to taunt a psychotic vampire, but he couldn't help himself.

Banks crouched down and looked Clayton in the eye. "We both know that’s a lie. Your in my world now Watcher, the council can't help you and neither can your slayer. Your alone and powerless, and you WILL play by my rules. Here you get one lie you've just used it. Lie again and you will suffer." Banks said suddenly sounding very sane.

Clayton thought this through, he was alone and powerless at the moment. But he believed Amanda would find him. All he had to do was play Bank's games until then. "So, what are we playing? Cribbage? Backgammon? I was always partial to poker myself" Clayton replied cheerfully.

Banks stepped into the room and kicked Clayton hard in the leg, causing Clayton to completely lose felling init.

"That was a warning shot, you only get one of those as well. And what the hell is it with you and your niece, are you pair going for a sarcasm record?" Banks said his attitude changing completely mid-sentence.

Clayton gritted his teeth against the pain. He hated this situation. His instinctive reaction was to reach down inside himself and give this chap something to really worry about, but that option had been taken away from him. "Sarcasm? well, I really can't comment for Amanda, but I find it lightens the mood" Clayton tried to reach out to Amanda, or Kanyk, again.

"What’s wrong starting to feel how small you actually are? You Watchers are all the same, the other he was just as bad. Though he wasn't a mage, but that must make it worse for you, to not have your powers." Banks was watching Clayton very carefully, during his time as a Vampire he'd become a great student of human emotions.

Clayton smiled and laid back down on the bed. Banks was getting to him, but he couldn't let him know that. "I think you'll find some watchers are different, as are some slayers. Let me go, and I'll convince Amanda not to turn you into a pile of dust."

Banks laughed "Do I look that stupid?"

"I'm not scared of you two. I'm just hungry, Slayers taste sooo good, and after one you always have craving for more. That’s why I started all the recent fun and games in this city, I figured the council would send someone, and heck they sent a Slayer. The it was just a matter of reading up on you both." Banks said standing up and raising an eyebrow as Clayton sat on the bed.

"And you're sure the books told you everything about us? I think you're sorely mistaken." Clayton was thinking on his feet, he wasn't quite sure what direction he was going in. He had to stall Banks for long enough so Amanda and the others could find him.

"Not books, but people. If you apply enough of the right type of pressure people talk, as no doubt you niece will eventually find out, the last Slayer here did." He said with pure malice in his voice.

Banks then looked at the enamel bowl, "You really should eat you know, it'll coagulate if you leave it." His attitude suddenly turning to one of concern.

"No thanks, I've had my daily haemoglobin allowance." Clayton had worked out what Banks was trying to make him eat, and he wasn't going to do it.

Banks shrugged his shoulders, "Your choice I guess."

He suddenly slapped Clayton on the arm, and something sharp sank into Clayton's flesh. Then Banks removed his hand revealing an empty syringe.

"Your gonna wish you'd eaten when this kicks in, the first dose is mild, this should really be given on a full stomach. But you didn't want to eat." Banks said as he removed the syringe.

"It's fast stuff you'll probably feel it effects in the next 10 minutes." He said grinning and pocketing the syringe for later use.

Clayton felt the liquid enter his bloodstream. It burned. He felt strange inside, and realised that this was what was suppressing his magickal abilities. He could feel his head start to pound, and his body began to shake. Clayton sank down onto the bed, convulsing uncontrollably.

Banks watched as the Watcher began to feel the effects, the chemical worked, and he was almost sorry he killed the man who had made it for him, but the old fool was going to make it's antidote. Banks had put a stop to that.

Banks kicked the Watcher, he sure as hell didn't want to be this guy when he woke up.

Clayton saw colours swirling, images from his past. He tried to focus on them, but they moved too fast. He saw his childhood, his parents, then the images cleared. He was outside the pub. He knew this place all too well. He heard Amanda scream, and turned to see her being beaten down by 15 vampires. He knew how this ended. Raising his hand, he called on all his reserves and yelled, "As I look upon my enemies, I call forth the hellfire to strike them from this existence." He swung his hand towards the earth, and waited for the fire to come. Nothing happened, no fire, no nothing. He ran towards his niece, hearing her screams as her ribs were broken. A fist came out of nowhere, striking at the side of his head, and everything went black.

Back to a rather worried Slayer…

Amanda wandered back into the castle, looking more than a little disheartened. Banks had taken her uncle, she had no leads, and couldn't help thinking that it was her fault.
Finding a nearby chair, she slumped into it, and put her head in her hands. A huge part of her wanted to start crying, but she knew that if she did, then she'd probably never stop. Despite everything that she was blessed with, she was still a person, with real feelings. Amanda had never counted these as a disadvantage - until now.

After about 15 mins of sitting in the chair, Amanda forced herself to get to her feet. She headed to the kitchen to make herself a large mug of black coffee.
The fact that she hated coffee didn't matter, she thought that the caffeine should help keep her awake (considering that she didn't sleep the previous night); and the vile taste of the dark liquid flowing over her tongue would, at least for a few vital seconds, take her mind of where her Uncle could be. Well, that was the theory anyway.

Travis walked up to the castle doors, following the long path from the town.

"I get moved from LA to here?" he muttered to himself "This guy must be bad."

He hoisted the bag he was carrying onto his shoulders and looked for a doorbell on the large castle doors, not seeing any he knocked the doors hard, hoping some one would hear him.

As he waited he noticed the smashed window, he became all to weary of his surroundings then and there, large open forestland, HUGE castle...he slammed the door again...

Amanda was in the middle of making her coffee when she heard the banging at the door. The last thing she needed was some door-to-door salesman trying to persuade her that the castle needed a conservatory.
She decided it was probably best to ignore it, and took a deep breath to try and calm herself down. She picked up the novelty mug, ready with instant coffee granules in the bottom. Any good the deep breathing may have done was immediately contradicted by more hammering on the door. Throwing the mug across the room, she strode towards the entrance.
Amanda opened the door with a less than amused look on her face.
" What?" She demanded.

Travis recoiled from the face the appeared from the door.

"Woah!" he looked at her and didn't sense any bad intent, just annoyance and severe grief "Your the Slayer aren’t you?"

He looked at her again, she was young, 16, 17 he wasn’t too sure, but she had seen a lot, he could see it in her face. But then again he'd been doing this for almost five years, he was called to be the Demon Knight, when his father gave it up, and his mother before him, he knew what it like.

"I’m Travis Thompson, the Demon Knight" His accent clearly American "I've been sent here to help, I hear you've vampire problems"

He waited for her to reply but could see she was still taking everything in "I was sent here by the council, some one called Debbie said you needed help, well I'm here"

"I don't care who you are, I don't care why you're here. I'm kinda busy with something right now, so I'd appreciate it if you'd just fuck off and leave me alone!"
The tone of Amanda's voice remained calm throughout, but something in her eyes flickered with a small flame of rage. She was not in a mood to be messed about.
" The exit is that way!" She pointed briefly in a random direction, and then forcefully closed the door. She almost slammed it, but then remembered what happened last time she did that.

Walking back through the castle, Amanda suddenly noticed that she was breathing heavily, and stood leaning against a wall for a moment trying to calm down. Unconsciously, she slid down the wall, sat on the floor, and placed her head in her hands.

"Ok...that was an experience and a half..."

Travis moved to the broken window, and clambered through. "Moody little bitch, but she's my ticket back to LA, so..."

He stood in the hallway and took in the scenery, there had been a fight here recently. He searched the hallway for any form of current life, "Still I know what its like to lose people close to me."

Travis wondered the castle corridors in search of ANYONE, he thought of using his telepathy but, he was still unsure about using it. When all else fails shout!

"Hello?!?!" he roared "Amanda!! Oh bog this..."

He put his hand to his head and concentrated, searching for anyone, projecting his thoughts, she had to be around somewhere.

"Amanda I'm only here to help, if your not going to go in search of your uncle, he will die, now I don’t know him but I KNOW you don’t want him to die..."

He just hoped that reached her and not someone hallway across the continent, it was the one skill of his heritage that he didn't like, and had little control over, mainly due to lack of use

Amanda's head snapped up, and she looked anxiously around the room. She started to breathe faster as she slowly climbed to her feet.
"Okay, what the hell was that?" Slayer mode kicking into gear, she moved swiftly to where the weapons were. Without consciously making a decision, she selected a dagger that her Uncle had given her on her last birthday.

Moving silently to a well-concealed location, she waited, and listened.

Travis walked into room looked about, he thought he had made contact with someone in her. He looked about, the room had definitely been used recently.

"Amanda? Are you in here? I’m not here to hurt you, I'm only here to help."

"Why do I always get stuck with the damn nut jobs," he mumbled to himself. He looked around the room in search for anything of interest.

Banks’ Lair revisited…

Clayton awoke feeling like hell, every muscle in his body ached and the small stream of light that came in from the boarded up window hurt his eyes and gave him a headache. Clayton shook his head, trying to clear the grogginess, this was a mistake, it just made his headache worse. At least he now knew what Banks was doing to him. He felt a shiver run down his spine as details of his hallucination came back to him. He knew he had to get out of here, he just wasn't sure how. He'd had a plan before Banks came in before. Racking his brains, the thought came into his brain 'bed leg'. He looked down at the chain holding him, it was looped round the leg of the bed. If he could lift the bed, he might be able to get free. Rolling off the bed, he put his feet against the base, and pushed.

The bed didn't move, it was already pushed tight against the wall, at both the side and at the head of the bed. And anyway he realised it was too heavy for him to lift in his current state.

Clayton was not impressed by this discovery. He really didn't fancy another shot of that serum. He began looking around for another way out, carefully scanning the entire room.

The room was 8' by 9'. The door was made of steel, and although chained to the bed he could still reach the door, though he didn't have enough length on the chain to get more than a few centimetres through it, even if he got it open.

The window on the opposite side of the wall was a window, the bottom sill was 6' high. The window had been boarded up from the inside, though Clayton couldn't take a closer look because his chain wouldn't reach that far.

Clayton examined his surroundings, and realised the chain was the problem. He began examining the chain and it's fittings at either end, plus what the chain was attached to, carefully.

The chain was solid and one end was padlocked to Clayton's leg, the other was chained around the furthest leg from the head of the bed, and the metal mattress support, and secured with another padlock.

Clayton looked carefully at the area of the bed where the chain was fixed. He gave it a tentative pull to see if it loosened. The chain didn't move, and he thought he could hear footsteps coming towards the door.

Clayton laid back down in the foetal position and pretended to be asleep, he could only really think of one person who could be coming, and he didn't want him to know he was trying to formulate an escape plan. This was really not looking good. "Amanda, please help me." Clayton whispered under his breath.

The foot steps stopped and the door flung open, "Wakey Wakey Watcher." Came the voice of Banks.

Clayton grunted and slowly opened his eyes, feigning sleep. He looked at Banks, it still didn't look good. He knew he was here mainly as bait for Amanda, but he couldn't see anyway to help himself now, let alone help her.

"Is it morning already?" asked Clayton.

"Well afternoon." Banks said shutting the door behind him, "Can't have you escaping can we?"

"How we feeling?" He enquired. "You were screaming in your sleep, what was it... oh yes that was it, 'Amanda nooooooo!'" Banks mocked breaking into a fit of giggles.

Clayton visibly shrunk back at Bank's taunting, visions of Amanda surging through his mind. Trying to fight it off, he looked at his captor again. "Was I, to be honest I don't remember." He bluffed again. He realised he was craving for a cigarette, his secret habit that not even Amanda knew about, there was no harm in asking, "I don't suppose there's any chance of a ciggy is there, I'm gasping mate." He asked.

"Sorry old boy, you were screaming and yelling something rotten, gave me and the boys a good laugh." Banks said pulling an unopened packet of fags from his pocket. He opened the packet and took two out and gave one to Clayton. He lit both, smoking one himself.

Clayton sat up, taking the lit cigarette. He took a long drag on it, and could feel the nicotine hit almost instantly. It relaxed him slightly, but not that much given his situation. "So, is this your plan. Keep me here until Amanda comes to get me, then kill her? I would've thought someone like you was more sporting than that. Or is this how you like to play the game?"

Banks thought for a moment. "Well no my actual plan for the rest of the day is torture Amanda mentally some more, wind my sister up, torture Amanda mentally, maybe kill some of her friends. Lunch, torture you, torture the slayer." Banks said taking a long drag from his cigarette.

"Actually, just between us, I'm waiting for your niece to come save you, then I'm gonna kill you in front of her, which should completely shatter her mentally, then I'm gonna drain her dry, I'll have worked up an appetite." Banks said smiling.

"Certainly has artistic merit", Clayton replied, his bravado hiding his revulsion. "You seem to like the torture, me, Amanda, your sister. Interesting that you mention her, most vampires deal with their family in short shift." Clayton took another long drag on the cigarette before he carried on, "Can I just say, between you and me, you're underestimating Amanda, she's a lot more resourceful than you are giving her credit for. I'm going to enjoy watching that fight." Clayton smiled.

"Don't start on about my bloody sister, I tried to kill, god I tried except the bitch wouldn't die." Banks said suddenly turning angry, and backhanding Clayton across the face.

"You and your Slayer have deep ties, what I do to you I do to her, she'll break, I already don't have that far to push her."

Clayton reeled from the blow, his face stinging badly and stars dancing in front of his eyes. It seemed he's found a sore point with Banks, may well be worth remembering, if he got out of this somehow. He wondered who this sister was, but knew better than to push further right now. It didn't help that deep down he knew Banks was right about Amanda as well. For all his showboating, Clayton doubted Amanda would be focused properly right now. He knew he wouldn't be if the situation were reversed. He knew he had to get out of here, but he also knew he was definitely no match for banks in his current condition. He would have to bide his time. He raised the cigarette to his lips and took a final drag before stubbing it out.

"You should probably eat." Banks said holding out the enamel bowl he'd brought with him.

Clayton looked into the bowl to see what it contained. He really didn't fancy another bout of hallucinations, but then again he wasn't going to eat what he was offered last time.

The bowl contained blood as it had before. Banks seeing the Watcher eye it suspiciously, "Don't worry it's still warm."

 Even though he could feel the hunger pangs gnawing at his stomach, Clayton wouldn't drink the blood. "No thanks, I'm really not hungry right now."

"You feel like hell now Clayton old boy, but the next dose will be worse, I don't want you to die on me... well not yet anyway." Banks said pushing the bowl closer.

"No way", Clayton yelled, swinging his arm to aiming to knock the bowl from banks' hand. "I won't do it."

Clayton caught the bowl and sent it flying out of Banks' hand.

Banks face changed to its true Vampiric form as he swung his own punch at Clayton, it caught him square in the ribs, winding him. Clayton heard something crack, and when he caught his breath back he realised that breathing was actually quite painful.

Clayton gritted his teeth against the pain, that was at least one rib broken. This was really not shaping up well. He knew what would be coming shortly, he just hoped he could cope with it. If it was going to be worse than last time, he really didn't know if he could handle it.

Banks looked at the Watcher with contempt and pulled a syringe from his pocket, "I gave you a choice. If you want pain that’s up to you, if you happen to die that’s not my problem, I don't remember reading many good reports of Warlocks blindness being taken on an empty stomach, but if your willing to try."

Warlock's Blindness. Clayton grabbed onto the name and tried to memorise it. He wasn't looking forward to what was coming. He just couldn't bring himself to eat the blood. He tried to settle himself into a position that he couldn't hurt himself in, and waited for the inevitable. He hoped the hallucinations wouldn't be so horrible this time.

Banks stuck the syringe in Clayton's shoulder, and stepped back to watch the fun.

Clayton felt the pinch in his shoulder as the needle went in, and the burning in his veins as the serum entered his bloodstream. He felt a searing pain in his mind as the drug began to take effect. Clayton's body started to convulse, his legs kicking against the wall. The colours began to swirl in front of his eyes, and Clayton passed out.

He found himself walking out of the castle. Darkness was falling around him. From the colour of the leaves, Clayton guessed it was autumn. He walked from the castle through the grounds. He heard a noise behind him. Turning around, he smiled. His niece, Amanda was stood in front of him. "Hey Amanda, how's the patrolling going"? He asked. Amanda didn't reply, she just carried on walking forward. As she got closer to him, her features changed. Clayton watched in horror as Amanda's forehead creased, her canines elongated and her eyes turned yellow. "Amanda, No!" Clayton cried, "Please god no." He turned and began to run, as fast as he could. He'd failed. Everything the council had warned him about had come to pass. He'd failed his calling and his family. How had it come to this? He could hear the footsteps behind him gaining on him. Clayton reached under his jacket, his hand touching the wooden stake he carried. Could he use it on his own niece? He didn't know. Turning round, his eyes faded to black as he raised his hand. "Thicken". Amanda stopped, held in a prison of air. He walked towards her, stake at the ready. He thrust the stake forward, as Amanda's features changed back to her normal form. At the last moment, he stopped. He couldn't do it, couldn't even save her from this fate. He lost the hold on his spell, and Amanda lunged forward, her face changing again. She barrelled into him, driving him to the floor. Suddenly a scream echoed out. Clayton watched as his niece dissolved into dust, impaled on the stake he held in his hand. The back of his head hit the floor, and the lights faded to black.....

Back to the Castle…

Hearing the voice, Amanda headed back to the room she had just been in. She paused outside the door, and held the knife behind her back.
She silently moved through the doorway, and stared at the new arrival. He noticed that she wasn't blinking.
"What do you want?" She said slowly, in a virtual monotone.

"For a start you can put down the knife, I am NOT here to hurt you, your friends OR your uncle, I’m here to help"

He put down his bags with a metal clank, still a bit unnerved with his welcome. "They are only supplies, weapons, holy water, clothes...ok" He had dealt with people on the verge on a mental break down before, he was a cop, but this girl she wasn't just on the verge, she was doing a Willie Coyote, if she looked down she WOULD fall.

"Amanda, now I was sent from LA to help you here in Carlisle, now I left my Watcher, best friends, Job and my so called life over their to come help you, and I’m willing to do that if your willing to help me."

"The woman Debbie told me a lot about the situation, now I know your terrified of your calling and of losing your uncle, I lost my family when I was about a year younger than you because of who I am, I watched, my father, sister, mother and unborn child slaughtered in front of me, I know what its like, and yeah I freaked, I spent most of the next two years running, then they found me again and guess what I ran again, until I realised they are not going to stop hunting me until I stop them, and I did, I faced up to my fears Amanda are you? Except you can stop your uncle from dying, this guy Banks, he's a vampire, YOUR the Slayer, he shouldn't be fucking with you, you should be fucking with him!"

He looked at her, and felt a twang of sympathy for her, mainly because he saw a lot of himself in her, he wasn't going to let this happen all over again.

Amanda started pacing across the room. She took the knife from behind her back, and started looking at it. As she glanced upwards it was obvious she was not pleased. The small flame of rage behind her eyes seemed to have grown.
"It's all very well saying this stuff, but it changes nothing!" She thrust the knife downwards into the table by her side. The fact that it almost went all the way through the oak desk was not a good sign. "You have no idea what's going on here. You want to offer me a lead, fine, I may just listen to you. If you're going to continue spouting this crap, then you might as well just sod off back where you came from!" She rapidly turned around, and headed back to the kitchen.

Neither of the pair had noticed a third figure enter the room. Though this figure watched the argument with some interest, he was trying figure out exactly what was going and not getting anywhere fast.

"So what is it? Some kind of lovers tiff?" The young boy asked in a cumbrian accent.

"Anyway is Clayton about? I've got that book he lent me." The boy said Handing Amanda an old looking book and a copy of this evening’s paper.

"Did you see that about that student nurse?" He asked idlelly he often read the paper as he did his round, saved on him having to buy a copy himself.

"Oh yeah, that weird bloke that some times hangs about with your uncle gave me a note." The boy pulled out a badly written note scrawled on the back of a betting slip.

With that he left the room, he'd skived enough and he was already late for football training.

Amanda stopped dead, and stood for a moment, holding the paper, book, and note. She dropped the book and paper on the floor, and stared at the note, almost afraid to read what it contained.

Eventually, she took a deep breath, and read the note.

The note read:

Sorry Clayton, I've had to leave town for a few... well for a bit. I know it's sudden but, well let’s just say I've ran into a few... problems. I'll be back as soon as I can. I really hope you guys kill Banks, sorry I can't be there to help.

Pepek

Amanda sighed, and sat down in the nearest chair.
"Hold on, what student nurse?" She muttered, as she picked up the paper, and scanned it's pages.

"What would you say if i told you I might, only might be able to locate your uncle?"

He looked at her and could still see she was enraged, but a glimmer of hope appeared in her eyes.

"I might be able to locate him telepathically, like I did you, but there are two problems, first I don’t know him and second its not the most reliable thing in the world,"

Travis saw her, she wasn’t to impressed "Just get me something personal of his, if he is with Banks it should be easier to locate him, Vampires reflect telepathic thoughts so all I have to do is locate a dead zone on the astral plane and hopefully it will bring us to your uncle."

Simon had passed out whilst making tea...He woke with a start.

He blinked.

"What the fuck happened there?"

He blinked again..."Ahh, the kettles boiled!!!" he beamed...

He saw Amanda, and some other guy he didn't recognise poised ready to pounce on each other. he grabbed his crossbow, and yelled "Don't even think about moving..."

Travis saw the guy with the crossbow, and said "Why does everyone keep threatening me! I'm only here to help, no other reason"

He looked again at his finger, it was twitching, "Please put that down, before some gets hurt." Then he looked to Amanda "Amanda, I need something personal, a photo, a pipe, some jewellery anything"

"For god's sake!" Amanda yelled, as she got up from the chair, still clutching the paper. "Simon, put down the crossbow. If anyone's going to hurt him it's gonna be me." She turned towards Travis. "And you can just shut up for five minutes. This could be important."
She silently sat back down in the chair, gave a deadly glance to both of the other people in the room, and continued looking in the paper for anything about a student nurse.

The front page told of how another student nurse, Laura Hope, had gone missing on her way back to her home after work. This was the fifth such disappearance in the last 2 weeks. And was similar to a series of events and disappearances in 1981 were 8 nurses and student nurses went missing.

The article didn't give at which hospital the nurses worked, so it was either the royal infirmary or the Garlands Psych hospital.

The picture of the young nurse on the front of the paper seemed familiar to Amanda, then she realised why, it had been that of the girl they had found in the grounds earlier that night, a victim of a vampire attack.

Amanda stood up purposefully, and threw the paper to one side. "Simon, get the weapons. We're going on a little excursion."
She looked at Travis. "You can come if you want. But if you pull anything stupid I swear you'll never walk again." Amanda said, with a gravely serious look on her face. She glanced down at the floor for a moment, frowning. The hospital was closest, so she'd start there. If she didn't find any clues, then she would move on to The Garlands.
Involuntarily a small smile formed on her face. This was what she had been waiting for; a lead. Now she could get her Uncle back.

Travis looked at the two of them getting prepared, he un zipped his bag and took out a large sword, his family sword, blessed with holy water, no vamp could touch it, and a cut from it would burn like the hells. He held it at his side, and took out his miniature crossbow, which he could conceal up his sleeve and a few bolts, and holstered some stakes.

"Almost ready" he said as he sheathed some daggers in his boots, as well as on behind his neck, just in case.

"Look I should try finding him telepathically first, it could narrow down our search and we could get some bearing on how many we're facing"

"Hell!" Exclaimed Simon. He looked towards Travis and his gear.." You sir, are tooled to the teeth!!!"

He shacked his crossbow onto his back, stuffed his long leg pocket with bolts and prepared to leave. He grabbed his jacket. A long, black leather coat, the back scarred with bleach...

"Trust me when I say you can never be too tooled to the teeth, especially when Demons actively hunt you down day and night." He gave a charismatic smile and said "If were not going to try it we should get going."

He pulled his coat on to cover his weaponry

However it was about 3-4pm and it's still fairly light...

Thinking on his toes, Simon grabbed a more subtle weapon : A sharpened toothbrush!!!!! He couldn't afford to be seen wielding his crossbow, or a stake, so for subtlety the toothbrush had to be taken....

Why he has a sharpened toothbrush, no one knows... No one would suspect Simon's sharpened toothbrush, he grabbed a stake for backup, and hid it with his bolts

Amanda began to gather some serious weaponry together, and then glanced up at the window. A shot cut to getting arrested - walk through Carlisle in broad daylight carrying a large amount of weaponry.
"Damn it. What time's the sun due to go down?"

The average time of sunset over the last few days had been around 17:15, but it wasn't really dark till about 18:00 hours.

Ah daylight, I sorta forgot about that, I guess were castle bound for the next few hours," He looked at the two of them "At least now that we have some leads I know where to focus my telepathy, since your too head strong to get me something of his I guess you'll have to do, you are his most valuable possession, so the link should be strong,"

He looked at her, she still wasn’t too sure about this whole telepathy thing, he could tell (he could read her thoughts). "Just focus on him and think only of him"

Amanda took a deep breath, which rapidly turned into a yawn.
"Sod this. I'm gonna get some sleep. Wake me up when it starts getting dark". Amanda hadn't realised quite how tired she was until that moment. She was in no fit state to even think about rescuing her uncle until she'd got her head down for a few hours.

Travis looked at the retreating slayer, "I don’t know why I even bother."

He walked past Simon, "She always like this?" and slumped into a chair.

"well you would be if your Uncle had just gone missing...." Simon laid down the toothbrush, and dumped his jacket and crossbow. "So, who the hell are you anyway?"

 Travis stood up and realised he didn’t know who this guy was and vice versa, "The names Travis Thompson, 'The Demon Knight' " and began quoting a line from and ancient text " 'The mystical warrior descendant through their family to protect the human race from demon kind' "

He looked and Simon and smiled "Sorry my watcher likes to quote that every so often. The Demon Knights are slightly less known than the Slayers but we're just as strong and fast, you know the routine."

He held out his hand to shake Simon's

A form detaches itself from the shadows in the corridor, slowly becoming distinguishable as Kanyk.... He pads silently up to the door to the room where the others are standing, still hearing nothing worrying, despite what he had smelled, he rounded the doorpost.

Peering at the newcomer, he arches a tufty eyebrow, "Hmmmm, I guess there’s some things I should know..."

"I assume since you lot aren't fighting, that this gentleman is friend, not foe? Either way, he smells funny."

Before Simon could respond Travis turned to the newcomer, "I smell funny?" He should have guessed there was a demon close by, his head was throbbing. "I assume you’re with the slayer as well? I’m Travis, Travis Thompson, the Demon Knight, maybe you've heard of my kind so I wont have to explain it again."

They all noticed it was getting very dark in Clayton's office as night quickly rolled in and it started to rain heavily. Making it that much darker both inside the office and outside in the city.

Travis noticed the setting off the sun, "Should someone go wake Amanda? we should get going now"

He suited up once more and prepared to depart.

Selwin put down the newspaper he was reading and had a thought. Digging in the phone pages he found the number of the papers office.
Dialling the number, he waited.
"Hello, sorry to disturb you. I would like to talk to somebody about the article on the death of the nurse. I was wondering which hospital the nurse worked at and if it was the same hospital as the other bodies?"

"Hello." The voice on the other end replied. The voice didn't sound especially bright.

"errr the....., yeah what do you want?" The voice said obviously the YTS boy had picked up the phone.

"Oh those nurses, yeah right, they the ones that work up at the nutt 'ouse. Why you wanna know anyways?" He said answering Selwin's question and asking one of his own.

"That would be Garlands. Okay, thanks.
My name? Bob Richards at Reuters. Just double-checking the information before we post it. Sorry what was your name? Just in case I have to mention it?

"Oh crap!" Came the reply, "I'm not meant to answer the phone!" With that the phone was slammed down.

Amanda woke, and noticed that it was dark. She had slept, but it hadn't been a restful sleep. She wouldn't be getting another one of those until her Uncle was safe.
Bleary eyed, she wandered back into the main room where everyone else was sitting.

"So were all here, you wanna lead the way?" he asked Amanda.

Grabbing his sword and gear he stood up and walked towards the door.

Nodding his head, Kanyk followed Travis towards the exit.

"My name is Kanyk, Travis, Demon Knight. I believe I met one of your ancestors, some time ago." He chuckled through his beard, "That probably accounts for the smell."

Clapping Travis on the back, "Well met, young Sir Knight."

Travis looked at the Demon, "Nice to see some one appreciates me being here," he said giving a glancing look to Amanda, "We should get going..."

He walked out the door obviously annoyed, with his previous encounter with Amanda, "Come on what are we waiting for?"

Simon turned to Amanda : "D'ya trust him? He seems mostly friendly..." Once more he prepared to leave....

Amanda picked up a few stakes and her uncle's crossbow. It seemed right that she should take it with her. She seemed to have a developed a disbelieving frown, and all confidence seemed to have left her. Glancing upwards, she caught sight of Selwin, and she knew what she had to do.
"5 minutes" Amanda said to the others, as she took Selwin to one side.

Taking a deep breath, she looked at Selwin with a faint flicker of desperation in her eyes.
"You used to be a Watcher, right? How would you like to be one again?" She said, in a virtual monotone. "It's not fair on him, and it's not fair on me that it's like this. If Uncle Clayton wasn't my Watcher then he'd be safe right now..." She sighed. "There's so much more I should have been doing. I haven't patrolled since he was taken, I haven't.... I haven't been doing my job, because all I can think about is him. " Amanda started pacing slightly. "This is my calling, this is what I am, but I can't be effective as a Slayer if all I'm doing is worrying about him." She came to a stop in front of Selwin. "But a Slayer needs a Watcher. It can't be him..." She said, with more than a hint of sadness in her voice. "So it may as well be you". Drawing herself up to her full height, Amanda closed her eyes for a moment, and focussed. When she opened them again, her determination had returned. "So, what do you say?"

Before Selwin could reply, Kanyk interjected, "Stop speaking nonsense, girl."

He looked her in the eyes.

"Your bond of family with Clayton is a strength, not a weakness. Some may argue that it could impair your judgement sometime, either of you that is. But Clayton is a sensible, knowledgeable man, and could even be accused of being wise. And I can see your focus on your duties is strong." Smiling, he continued, "If Clayton were not related to you, and merely a watcher assigned by the council, would you run to rescue him? I warrant you would, it’s in your nature, you are a slayer, a protector of man. Your tie will just make you more determined in your rescue."

Gently resting his hand on Amanda’s arm, he said, "Clayton is a friend to me, I worry also for his safety, but that worry will not stop or hinder me. We will have him back among us, soon."

Selwin looked at Amanda. She came across as a tough, hardnosed hellcat, but there was still a caring side to her. She was scared and worried, both about Banks and Clayton.
"Our friend here is right. I have been here, blood makes no difference, Watcher and Slayer ARE family.
As for being your Watcher? Been there, done that, couldn't cope with the pain a second time. However, if you are asking me to be a stand-in. Yes, I would be honoured. On one condition. This is temporary, when we get Clayton back, I resign.
"Just one more thing, could we stop all this running, these shoes don't fit and I have blisters.
"Oh did some phoning. The nurse was from the psychiatric hospital. Looking at the report sounds like the most likely place for our favourite psycho."
Selwin looked at Amanda.
"Sorry bad joke.
"So if we are heading into the wolf's den, we need to, as you kids say, tool up.
However, if we are going to save Clayton, we need information. So this is not going to be a slayfest. No dusting unless absolutely needed. We need to find out who, what and where. Understood?"

Amanda pushed Kanyk's hand away, and stepped back from Selwin and Kanyk. A small flicker of rage crossed her face, as she stared at them.
"You don't understand!"
Amanda turned to Selwin. "Seeing as you're not my Watcher, then you can't tell me what to do!"

Amanda turned around rapidly, and ran out of the door, heading towards the Garlands. She knew she could run faster and longer than any of the others. As she ran, Amanda looked for the telltale light of a taxi. The Garlands wasn't that close, and suddenly she had a terrible feeling that time was of the essence.

Travis saw Amanda shoot off, what she didn’t know was that she wasn't the only one with enhanced abilities. He gave Kanyk a look, he would understand, and sprinted after her, he wasn’t gonna let her die, not if he could do something about it.

He began closing on her, "Amanda!" He shouted "Amanda! Stop!" He could see she wasn’t happy to see him.

As both stopped out side the castle they noticed a man dressed in a smart black suit carrying a long black cane, as if had been on his way to a wedding. he was reading something painted on the eve of the house across the road.

They both noticed the wreath that hung on the wall, as well as what was scrawled underneath it.

RIP CLAYTON JOHNSON

it read.

Going from standstill to flat out in a moment, Kanyk had moved after Amanda and Travis at lightning speed, only pausing when he noticed the wreath.

"Damn crazy vampires, should all go back where they came from" He grumbled to himself.

"He's messing with our minds, or trying to. Standard fare for nutty vampires."

The man noticed them both, "Evening" he said and walked away from them.

Simon looked to Trav: "Get in. I got my car asshole!" He unlocked his Tuxedo Black 1967 Chevrolet Corvette 427 Coupe and jumped in. He stuck the key in the ignition and started it up... "glub glub glub glub" came the tickover noise.

"Are you coming?" He yelled again...

Travis gave Simon a look, ever since he had gotten here he was shunned, rejected and now he's an asshole, for a minute his eyes glowed red, and a red aura surround him, he knew these people didn't like him, he didn't care but he was just trying to help! He saw Simon back off a bit.

He started mumbling "Calm down Trav, calm down, this is the reason your here, but it wont help if they're dead...just calm down"

From a spectator it looked as if Travis had grown about a foot in height and radiated a red aura that was cold.

He walked over to Simon's car and opened the door so forcible his handprint was left on the handle. He growled in a voice that wasn't entirely his. He reverted back, and collapsed to his knees in a cold sweat, clutching his head.

He fumbled to his knees and walked over to Amanda, "Get in the car" His voice stern, low and calm.

Kanyk followed Travis into the car, barely folding himself into the seat.

Quietly, so only the young demon-fighter could hear, he muttered, "Don't bristle lad, they're feeling threatened and mostly seem petrified... things will get better around here." He grimaced, "Hopefully..."

Selwin looked at the retreating Slayer. "That girl has serious issues." he said quietly. "So much for the information gathering."

Following the others out, he was pleased to see the car. Thank god, he thought, no running. Taking his flask out, he took a slug and climbed into the car. Being of a friendly disposition, he offered the drink around. "Hair of the vampire that bit you, anyone?"

"Do we know where we are going?"

How to torture a Watcher part 3…

The room was now very dark and had actually got colder, though the sound of someone singing, badly and very loudly, the song 'Morning has Broken' could be heard though the word morning had been switched with Night.

Clayton felt like crap. taking care because of the damage he'd already sustained, he tried to sit up. He suddenly found sitting up was near impossible, and it dawned on him why, the entire left side of his body was paralysed. Shame it hadn't been his right side then maybe his broken ribs wouldn't have hurt so much.

"Are you awake? I hope my singing didn't wake you?" A voice asked him.

As he realised what was happening, Clayton began to panic. Each dose of this drug was having worse and worse effects. He hoped the paralysis was temporary. He'd heard of warlock's blindness, mage's used it to hide themselves from the Spanish inquisition. He couldn't remember anything else about it though.

Slowly, Clayton opened his eyes, and look at the figure in front of him. "That was singing? I thought a cat had died."

"A cat signing?" Banks glared at Clayton, then suddenly burst into fits of manic laughter.

And just as suddenly as he started he stopped, "Yes what can I say, I can't sing, but thank you for your honesty."

Banks looked at Clayton again, "But then again my signing is probably the last of your problems. You really look like hell Clayton."

"To be honest, I feel like crap" Clayton replied, he still couldn't move the left side of his body, and he could feel the convulsions hadn't done his broken ribs any good at all.

"So, is it a nice day outside?" Clayton asked, trying to make conversation. The longer he could delay Banks, the better chance he had of avoiding another dose of the drug.

"You do look really crappy old bean. I mean I've seen healthier looking corpses, heck I've been one." Banks said prodding Clayton rather roughly with his foot.

"Anyway it's not day it's night, that’s why I woke you. Know doubt you're niece is scouring the city for me. And I bet she is less than amused."

"Hmm, I would go with that assessment. I still don't fancy your chances much. " Clayton responded, hoping that he was right. Amanda was strong, but she didn't have the emotional strength yet to cope with this. He knew he looked like death, and he really didn't know how Amanda would handle seeing him like this. Kanyk would help her, but Simon and Pepek were a liability, only there because to stop them getting killed, and the smelly watcher was kind of a mystery.

He had to try to string this out, but then again, he didn't want Amanda to see him under the influence of the drugs, that would be even worse.

"You do realise she's going to kill you, don't you?"

"No I'm going to kill you then I'm going to kill her. " Banks said as he began pacing back and forth.

"Do you realise how many have tried to kill me, how many times I've been staked, set on fire, hundreds, but I'm more powerful than you could every believe." Banks was starting to rant, and if it was possibly the crazed look in his eye got a whole lot crazier.

Clayton paused, wondering whether what Banks had just said was another sign of his madness, or not. He really hoped it was. Not for the first time, he wondered how long the effects of this drug would last. If Banks did prove to be very hard to kill, he wanted everything at his disposal. Fear settled in the bottom of his stomach like a rock, but it wasn't fear for himself. He had to find a way to warn Amanda. Even though he didn't think it would work, Clayton reached inside himself, and tried to send out a message. He tried to send out a telepathic broadcast, he hoped he could. The message simply said "Warn her".

It didn't work where he could have normally focused in on Amanda, he know only felt a void, he knew things should have worked, but there was a black void between him and the people around him. It gave him the irrational feeling of a death shroud, and made his headache worse.

In front of him Banks continued his rant, "I am the most powerful Vampire that ever lived, I am the next step in Vampire evolution....." Banks continued not helping Clayton's headache.

Clayton listened to Bank's ramblings, but didn't try to stop them. He listened intently, taking in what Banks had to say. He didn't know if it was true or delusion, but it paid to have information. Plus the longer he talked like this, the better. He didn't fancy another dose of the drug, or another beating. At least now Banks wasn't doing either of those things.

Banks was really ranting now, "I am king of the Vampire's, I am invincible." He was really in his own world.

"I can't be killed and tonight I shall feast upon the blood of a slayer." With this he broke into fits of laughter.

Clayton froze as an image flooded into his mind, Banks, holding Amanda, drinking. Surely he could be killed somehow. There weren't many things that made a vampire unkillable. He had to warn Amanda, to tell her to get the hell out of Carlisle, he just didn't know how. "Oh god," Clayton whispered, "What the hell have we walked into."

Banks suddenly stopped hearing Clayton, "You little man have walked into my world, my city where I am a god." Banks laughed and bent down to pick Clayton up.

He grabbed Clayton by the front of his shirt and lifted him clean off the ground effortlessly.

And grinned at Clayton the way you'd expect a serial killer to.

Clayton felt his body hang limply as he was lifted off the floor, he knew there was nothing he could do about this. Even if he could get free, he couldn't go anywhere, he couldn't move half his body. Thoughts ran through his head, but too fast for him to understand more than flashes. He knew he'd failed. He'd failed Amanda, he'd failed the council, and there was nothing he could do. Nothing.

Banks continued grinning as Clayton dangled helplessly. He held him for a moment then started dancing round the room with Clayton, well as far as his chain would stretch singing, "I'm gonna eat your slayer, I'm gonna eat your slayer nah nah nnah nah"

Anger surged through Clayton as he heard the taunts. "No you're not. She is going to kick you supposedly immortal arse back to where it came from, you sick and twisted psychotic fuckhead!". He realised his mistake, but couldn't do anything about it now. he'd just blown it big style. Panicking, and acting on instinct, he brought his right hand up and tried to spellcast. "Solar flare!" He knew it wouldn't work, he just had to try something.

Banks stopped and growled his face took on it's vampiric form.

There was a pause and he suddenly flung Clayton against the wall, except it was the wrong wall the chain ran out of length before he hit the wall. The chain pulled taught and as it did it wrenched every joint in Clayton's right leg.

Before Clayton could catch his breath or yell in pain he hit the ground, the fall jolted him, but he'd hit the ground with his left side, which he had no feeling in anyway.

The shock jarred through Clayton's body as he hit the floor, it felt like his leg had been pulled out of its socket. He groaned as he lay there. Clayton knew he had just been really stupid. Without magick, it was suicidal, and if he had been able to use it, he'd have thrown the balance out. He laid his head down, and pretended to be unconscious.

Banks shook off the demon, no he had to calm down, Banks took a deep breath. He had to keep his cool, if he killed the watcher now he would have nothing to break the slayer with later.

Banks looked at the Watcher, he wasn't moving, he wandered over and kicked him a bit, nothing much happened so he kicked him a bit harder.

Clayton groaned, least he hadn't killed him. Looking at the fallen Watcher made Banks feel suddenly hungry... he pushed that thought right out of his head. Banks moved toward the door, opening, he needed something to eat that wasn't watcher.

Clayton listened as Banks left the room. He inched towards the bed, trying to relieve the pressure a bit on the chain. He didn't think he could get up off the floor though. He knew they were in trouble. How had it got this far? He knew the answer really, he'd been planning something really stupid, but Amanda had stopped him, the only way she could at the time. If he'd been calmer, more controlled, this wouldn't be happening. He'd caused this, another failure to add to his list. Clayton lay on the floor of the room, sobbing quietly.

After a few minutes, Clayton regained his composure, and started to think properly. In his current state, He was a liability to Amanda, He knew she would spend all her time worrying about him, and he couldn't let allow that to get her killed. If he got through this, He'd ask Kanyk to take over as Amanda's watcher for a while. He knew it would be hard, to watch her being trained by someone else, but it would give him the time to heal, and the time to get stronger. Clayton hated these feelings of helplessness, he couldn't let it happen again. He wouldn't let himself be put in a position like this again.

Clayton heard footsteps heading toward the doors. And then the door opened, and Banks stepped in.

Clayton looked up at Banks, somehow everything seemed easier now he'd made his decision. He knew he'd get out of this, and he would take his revenge, maybe not soon, but it would happen.
"Good evening, I take it you had a nice meal?"

Banks looked down on him. "Yes it was okay. Screamed a little more than I normally like but, hey when you have all the nurses you can eat why complain." Banks said holding enamel bowl out to Clayton.

"I think you should really eat something."

Clayton looked into the bowl, knowing what would be in it. He knew the effects of the drug were getting worse each time, and Banks had said something about not taking it on an empty stomach, but the idea of drinking the blood still repulsed him. He pondered his options, the most important thing was to stay alive, he wouldn't get even if he was dead. All he had to do was bide his time, Amanda would be here soon, and he knew she would get him out of here. He didn't know how, he just knew it.

Looking up at Banks, Clayton said "Maybe I should."

"Er you actually have no choice this time matey." Banks told him. "I can't afford you dying on me before the Slayer gets here, see she actually has to see you die in a horrible way, you being dead when she gets here is only gonna piss her off. But if she sees you die, then she'll loose her focus and I'll feed off her."

"Well, maybe. I still say you're biting off more than you can chew, although you don't realise it." Clayton responded. For some reason, he felt much calmer than he had before, all they had to do was get out of there, they didn't have to beat Banks today. Banks would get his comeuppance eventually, he'd make sure of it. "So, are we drinking?"

"I've had my fill for now, gotta save some space for your niece. " Banks said handing over the bowl and watching Clayton very carefully.

The contents of the bowl were still warm, it had to have been fresh.

Taking the bowl with his good hand, Clayton began to drink, even though his mind was screaming at him not too. As he got about halfway down the bowl, he let his fingers slip, spilling the blood over his face and down the front of his clothes. He watched as the bowl clattered towards the floor. "Shit, it's only supposed to be my left side that's numb, " he exclaimed. Hopefully this would work. He needed to release the anger in Amanda, she needed to focus on the kill.

Banks watched as the bowl rolled across the ground, he whistled and a second figure entered the room dragging the body of a half conscious woman. The second man passed Banks the body and picked up the bowl holding it out for him.

"Sorry old bean has to be a full stomach, now we gonna have to do this the hard way." With that Banks pulled out a pocketknife slitting the woman’s throat, the other man held the bowl as blood drained into it. It filled quickly and once it was full Banks dropped the body.

"Grab him." He told the other Vamp menace in his voice.

Clayton tried to block out the image before him, the blood flowing from the neck of the woman, the life draining out of her. He knew he was going to be forced to drink it, the thought repulsed him. He looked at the woman's eyes, there was still a glimmer of life there, Clayton watched it fade. He would avenge her, as well as himself. Oh yes, he will take his revenge.

Clayton laid back, and waited for Banks' lackey to grab him.

Spencer nodded and grabbed Clayton, he was even less gentle than Banks had been. He put the Watcher in a headlock and grinned. "Go on Boss his throat next!"

Clayton winced as he was pulled about roughly by the second vampire. "Own, careful, I've only just got this suit back from the dry cleaners." Although the threat was there, he was confidant banks and his lackey wouldn't kill him. It didn't fit with Banks' plan. He did know what was coming though, he was going to be forced to drink the blood. Clayton made a silent vow to avenge this, Banks would pay.

"It's all your fault you know." Banks told the Watcher, "If you had drank the first bowl I wouldn't have had to kill her." Next thing Clayton knew Banks had grabbed his still bruised jaw, he hadn't even seen the Vampire move. Banks forced the jaw open and began pouring the blood.

Clayton knew struggling was pointless, at this point, Banks and his lackey could force him to do anything, so there wasn't much point in struggling. The warm crimson liquid poured into Clayton's mouth and down his throat. Clayton wasn't sure why, but for some reason, he found the coppery taste quite refreshing, and not entirely unpleasant. Clayton shook off the thoughts, it was madness.

They continued until the bowl was empty, and Banks grinned evilly. "Tasty wasn't it?"

Spencer looked confused, "Why didn't we just kill him?"

"Because he's bait, we've been over this." Banks told the other Vampire.

"Can't he be bait dead?" Spencer asked

Banks looked across at Banks, "I really don't know why I bother. We have to use live Watcher to catch Slayer, then Live Watcher becomes dead Watcher followed by dead Slayer. Do you understand?"

Spencer shook his head, "Come on a little bite."

Banks shook his head and stood up, "Spencer come here."

Spencer dropped Clayton in a heap and walked over to Banks, "Yes Boss." Clearly Spencer looked up to Banks.

"Hold out you arm." Banks told Spencer. Spencer held out his arm, Banks grabbed it. He smiled and suddenly the sound on bone snapping filled the room, followed by Spencer's scream.

"Stop asking stupid questions and I'll stop breaking your bones. Now get out." Banks warned his underling.

The he turned to Clayton, "Don't you just love the sound of bones snapping in the evening?"

Clayton had to work hard to keep a straight face. The inept lackey had deserved that. Clayton shifted his weight, taking the pressure of his broken ribs. He hoped Amanda would get here soon, Banks would get what was coming to him. Clayton knew that.

Banks looked suddenly confused, "Where were we?"

"Damit!" Banks suddenly yelled and punched himself in his head, "ARRGGHHH!" He yelled suddenly enraged.

All of a sudden Spencer popped his head back round the door, he was still clutching his broken arm.

"Er Boss... we may have a problem."

Banks looked at him and then at Clayton.

"Could you just wait one moment, I need to go stake the hired help." Banks said following Spencer out of the door.

Clayton watched the two vampires leave, part of him hoped this would be Amanda coming to get him, but another part of him hoped it wasn't. Banks was obviously mad, which suggested to Clayton that he should have been dead a long time ago, mad vampires don't last long generally, and with some of the things Banks had been saying earlier, Clayton wondered.

He still couldn't move his left side, so even if he could get the leg clamp off, he couldn't do much, all he could do is wait, and plan his revenge.

The hero’s find the Lair….

The Garlands mental hospital was on the opposite side of the city. It was a large building built in the Victorian times, it was a dark imposing building.

It was 5 stories high, though due to endless cuts in the NHS, and (Don't) Care in the community only the first 4 floors were used by the Hospital. Though the top floor had been abandoned since the late 70's.

There were two ways into the building, the front door which led to the hospital reception or the fire escape which went as far as the 5th floor.

The car pulled up to the hospital about half an hour later, the silence between the companions was unbearable, yet Travis could here their turmoil of thoughts, thrashing inside his head. His telepathy AND powers were always like this after the "change" came upon him, a bit out of whack, but he should be ok in a few minutes. He could sense Amanda was scared and angry, above all he could sense that anger. From the demon he sensed nothing, just calm, such as it was, Travis felt and overwhelming sense of peace.

They pulled up at the hotel, and Travis got out first. "So how do we get in?"

"At a guess, through the door..."

Simon opened the boot of the car, and extracted a rather large axe.

Then he realised that the hospital was working and open...

He pointed towards the door, and brought his handy easily concealable hatchet with him along with a stake or two...

"It maybe a good idea to cover both entrances. I'll take the fire exit. Anyone want to join me?"

"Ill go with Simon, we should have at least one suped up mad person per group, just be careful, everyone" He slipped his sword down the concealment hole in his coat, and kept the rest of his weapons hidden.

"Kanyk if you find any trouble try contacting me telepathically, ill keep the channels open."

There were two burly security guards stood by the main door. Average mental hospital style, big no necks who could have subdued even the most difficult of patients. The main entrance was also covered by 4 CCTV cameras

the fire escape however was totally unguarded, not to mention with out CCTV.

Travis looked to Simon, “Maybe we should stick to Kanyk, since we don't want to draw attention ourselves"

Amanda turned to them all, with a focussed look in her eye.
"We're taking the fire escape. Simon, you stay down here and mind the car - no arguments. Everyone else can come if they want, but you stay behind me, and keep your mouths shut. I'm not in a good mood, and if you get in my way, you may get hurt. Don't say that I didn't warn you!"
Amanda then began walking towards the fire escape.

All the pieces come together…

Banks closed the cell door behind him, "This better be good." He said to the four Vampires including Spencer who stood outside the cell, looking worried.

"You should see this Boss." Spencer said and pointed to the window.

Banks smiled she's here isn't she.

Spencer nodded, "But Boss...."

"No buts, she's here. And one more comment from you tonight Spencer and I will Stake you. Time we got the Watcher ready to die." Banks said going to a cupboard and picking up a straight jacket.

Banks reappeared in the cell.

"Time to meet your public old bean." He said grinning, "Well actually time for me to kill your niece."

"We can do this the easy or the hard way."

Clayton looked up, to see Banks holding a straight jacket. He knew he couldn't really fight back, and he certainly couldn't try to warn Amanda if he was unconscious. He just hoped she hadn't done anything stupid like come here alone. She didn't know he couldn't help her right now. Clayton felt the anger well up inside him, but he pushed it back, there was no point in anger now, it wouldn't help defeat him until he gets his magick back.

Clayton lifted his arm, extending it to help Banks put the straightjacket on.

"Who's a good Watcher?" Banks said patting Clayton on the head. "Does the good little Watcher want a doggie biscuit? Well tough you can't have one."

Banks pulled the straight jacket roughly on Clayton. He fastened it tightly putting yet more pressure on Clayton's broken rib.

He fastened both arms behind Claytons back and asked "Not too tight is it?"

Again, Clayton could feel the anger surging through him, he tried to remember the feeling, it was powerful and raw, although he couldn't make use of it right now. Banks knew it as well, and was going for the weakness. His ribs hurt too, and he was even more helpless now than he was before.

"Oww, that's tight" Clayton said, breathing heavily.

"Good" Banks said emotionlessly.

He grabbed Clayton by the back of his jacket and pulled Clayton to his feet. He let go of the jacket and instead of standing Clayton's legs wouldn't support his weight and Clayton crumpled to the ground, yelling in pain as he did. "Hmm we may have problems later." Banks said to himself.

He bent down and picked up the chain, he pulled it tight breaking several of the links and freeing Clayton from the bed. He grabbed the back of Clayton's straightjacket and dragged him into the corridor.

Clayton yelled in pain as the chain wrenched his leg even more as Banks pulled, his vision clouded for a moment, before coming back.

Clayton felt himself being manhandled through the doorway and into a corridor. Looking around, the place was abandoned, and high security. Suddenly, Clayton worked out where he was being held. The top floor of the mental hospital.

He knew what was going to happen now, Banks was going to try to use him to get to Amanda, he really hoped she'd brought Kanyk with her, this could get bad.

Spencer looked worryingly at the Watcher, "Er Boss what are we gonna do with him?" He asked.

"Dangle him in front of the Slayer to further piss her off, then kill him and destroy her." Banks said.

"That’s what I thought." Spencer said looking at the other 3 Vamps, now he was worried, he knew Banks was nuttier than a fruit cake, but this time even they thought he'd gone to far. And they would have told him so, if they weren't so terrified of him. They knew exactly what was waiting for them at the bottom of the stairs.

"And if she doesn't come up here looking for us?" Spencer asked.

"Then we dangle the watcher out of the Window and yell, 'yoo hoo!'" Banks said.

The worried looks on the faces of the other Vampires got worse, they realised he wasn't joking, he would do that.

Clayton listened to the vampire's conversation. The tone in the lackey's voice suggested that there was something wrong, but Banks wasn't listening. He hoped Amanda had been smart enough to bring help, although he knew how stubborn Amanda could be.

He had to try and warn her, they could deal with Banks another time.

Outside the door…

Travis looked back at Simon, apologetically and followed Amanda up the fire escape. "You do know this IS a trap. My demon radar is going off the scale."

"You're probably right, but I have a job to do, and I'm damn well going to do it! Trap or no trap."

"Was just making sure you knew. Lets get this over and done with." He followed Kanyk and Amanda up the fire escape.

The fire escape was a narrow, metal staircase. It stopped at each floor with a small gantry by the fire door at that level.

The fire door at the 5th floor was a simple double door with a simple lock that may have been part of the original fittings of the building. The windows were boarded up with large pieces of chipboard, but the door lock was clean and looked like it had been used recently.

"I guess we're heading up here then, but there's no point walking head long into the room and into about a hundred vampires." He held out his arm to stop the rest of them and concentrated, he knew there were demons up there but he had to have a fair idea how guarded Amanda's uncle was. He just hoped it worked.

"If I make a suggestion, let's not kick the door in." He looked at Amanda.

Selwin dipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out a small leather pouch. Kneeling down he had a close look at the lock. "Haven't done this in a while, but we'll see." Carefully and slowly, he checked to see if the door was locked. just in case. 

The door wasn't locked, and from behind it they could make out 3 different voices all with local accents.

Well that saved a lot of embarrassment, thought Selwin. Opening the door a crack, Selwin listened in.

Through the door he could hear,

"And if she doesn't come up here looking for us?" One voice asked.

"Then we dangle the watcher out of the Window and yell, 'yoo hoo!'" Said a Voice they recognised as Banks.

Travis unsheathed his sword, and poured a vial of holy water over the blade to strengthen the blessing on it.

"Do we wait, there's vampires and I’m reading a human in there too, ill try and contact him."

He reached out for the mind, it could be Clayton it might not be but it wasn't a vampire for sure. "Clayton is that you? Stay calm this is a telepathic message, I’m a friend so to speak of Amanda’s, could you tell me how many there is and where they are?"

selwin looked up at the others. Quietly he said, "Three the other side, banks and two others. They know we are on site, but not here." Selwin steps away from the door to allow the fighters in first.

Travis' message didn't quite get through, Clayton was there but there was something blocking the message.

But Selwin was correct, there were only 5 Vampires including Banks.

Travis heard Selwin, he didn’t expect a reply from Clayton, he must have missed his mind, but he WAS alive.
"Wait I have plan, risky but it might work, Amanda they're just expecting you, not us, we can surprise them, take em out a bit easier."

Simon was upset. He was forced to stay in the car... He lit a cigarette, and turned on the radio...

"Fine, you do the surprising, but I'm going in." Amanda pulled out her uncle's crossbow, loaded it, and moved to the door. "But, if you're gonna surprise him I'd advise that you move away from the door, so he doesn't see you when I go in!"

Travis moved back into the shadows dragging Selwin with him, "he wont be able to see us here."

Amanda took a deep breath, and kicked in the door. She knew it was open, but she needed to get the rage going. Then she could fight.
Striding through the doorway, she looked at what was inside, doing her best to keep a blank face.

Selwin sighed. The girl needs to learn subtly. "He's seen me, so I won't be a surprise. I'll go in as well."
When will I learn to keep my big mouth shut, he thought.

The Final battle…

Banks turned as the door opened and the Slayer stepped through. He smiled and lifted Clayton in front of him making sure Clayton was positioned in front of his heart.

"Hello Amanda dear, me and your uncle have been expecting you." He hissed he could almost taste the Slayer.

Spencer and the other Vampires dived behind Banks.

"Boss she looks mightily pissed." Spencer whispered.

"I know, funny isn't it.2" Banks said allowed.

"Spencer. You and the boys fuck off outta here. Now." Banks told Spencer, he didn't want to share this kill.

Spencer looked between his mentally unstable Boss and a pissed off Slayer. The four of them legged it down the main stairs only to happy to be off the hook.

Clayton hung limply in front of banks, unable to do much. But he could try to warn her. He intended to shout, but could only really croak out the words, "Amanda, be careful, I think there's something different about this one."

"So, this is where you've been hiding. I have to say, I thought you'd have had more taste." Amanda's eyes flicked briefly to her Uncle. A large part of her wanted to go over there and get him, but she had to be as calm and logical as she could manage. Anything else was going to get everyone killed.

"Well where else would you hide a lunatic?" Banks said smiling.

"Me and your uncle have been having a great old time." He said shacking Clayton about.

"Now what would you do to not make me kill him?" Banks asked

"If I was standing where you are right now, I'd be more worried about me killing you than you killing him!" Amanda forced a wry smile.

"From where I'm stood Slayer do you know how hard it would be for me to snap his neck?" Banks said full of menace.

"You my be fast Amanda, but he'd be dead before you could even react, can you live with his death?"

Amanda started pacing slowly towards Banks. "From what I've seen of you, you seem to be a vampire who use a lot of words, but doesn't actually do anything apart from play mind games. Is that some kind of attempt to bring everyone else down to your level of insanity?"

Travis waited in the shadows, he wasn’t about to jump out and get both Amanda and Clayton killed, he had to bide his time. He just hoped Amanda could keep her cool long enough for that to happen.

Banks smiled the young Slayer was challenging him, he liked a Challenge.

With his free hand he buried a finger into Clayton's broken rib. "Ask your uncle why I'm not toast? He can't do magic any more, he's as good as dead."

Clayton screamed in pain as his broken ribs shifted in his chest. His eyes glazed over with the pain before clearing again. Clayton so wanted to incinerate banks on the spot, the anger was surging within him again. Clayton could feel the power in it, even though it was an emotion you should never embrace as a mage. It didn't matter now, but one day, he would get revenge on Banks.

He looked up at Amanda, and smiled, trying to reassure her that he was ok.

"Come on then vampire." Amanda passed the crossbow to her left hand, and took a stake in her right.

"Show me what you've got!" Amanda was hoping that she could distract Banks long enough so that he would release her Uncle.

Travis saw his cue, she needed to get her uncle out and he could prove the perfect distraction. He walked through the sword at his side, dripping with holy water.

"Hey vampire, I’ve been watching what you've been doing to this slayer, and I do have to say its, pathetic. I mean kidnapping the watcher? How clichéd is that, but then again, your sister DID say you weren't the brightest spark in the bush."

"Do I look like an idiot?" Banks said. "I'm insane not stupid. If I put dearest uncle down, then you and your friends are gonna grab him and run." Banks said and then turned to Travis.

"She sent you did she, dumb bint, Oh my first stop after killing you lot is the Currock." Banks snarled.

He pulled a syringe from his pocket, it was full, "Lets make this a bit more interesting."

"May I introduce you to Travis. He's a Demon Knight, and is going to aid me in kicking your ass!!"

"On my signal grab Clayton" he said telepathically to Amanda. He fingered the miniature crossbow us his leave and took careful measure of the shot, he flicked his wrist and fired the crossbow at the vial.

It missed it syringe and stuck in Banks' hand.

Banks looked at Travis then at the syringe, "Well that was bloody stupid!"

With out warning Banks jabbed the syringe into Clayton. Delivering the final dose of Warlocks blindness.

"Question kids, is Blood food?" Banks asked.

As the crossbow was fired, Selwin moved to the other side of the corridor in an attempt to distract Banks. Digging his hands in his pockets he pulled out a stake and the holy water atomiser.

Amanda breathed in sharply when she saw Banks inject Clayton, but she forced herself to regain her composure. "What?"

Selwin moved forward. as he moved he unscrewed the cap on the atomiser and threw it at Banks spreading water everywhere.

Clayton felt the syringe go in, the liquid burning like liquid fire through his veins, He realised that this was even worse than the last time, a thought of terror crossed his mind. Blood can't be digested, it's not food.

Clayton's body began to convulse violently as his mind began to swim. Flashes of his past spun like a kaleidoscope of images, some good, some terrifying. Suddenly the images stopped swirling, being replaced by one solitary image. Banks, laughing at him.

"Is Blood food Slayer? Can the human body digest blood?" Banks asked, he'd had a worrying thought, Clayton was a human not a Vampire.

Amanda couldn't help staring at her Uncle. "How the hell would I know? Just let him go. It's me you want, so deal with me." Despite all her best efforts to keep it hidden, a touch of desperation came into Amanda's voice.

"Oh well I guess we'll have to wait and see." Banks said as he held on to Clayton's body as it began to convulse.

With his spare hand Banks pulled a hand gun from his pocket, "Spray that shit at me tramp and I'll shoot you." Banks was fast loosing patients.

Amanda glared at Selwin. No unnecessary risks. Everyone was going to come out of this one alive. Everyone.... except Banks.

"Banks isn't it? What sick pleasure do you get out of this?" he asked as he idly swung his sword, "Is it sexual tension, I mean picking on young girls, cause I mean there are methods to help that, but then again I’m sure you've discovered it since you are a big enough wanker as it is,"

He was trying to provoke the vampire, HOPING it would work, so Amanda could get Clayton, for a start he had a few more years experience than she did, he could try hold him off.

"You say your not and idiot but why the Slayer? if you kill one another comes, then another, until you eventually get yourself staked."

"Why the Slayer simple, Slayers taste amazing, you have one you never go back." Banks said, noticing Clayton's convulsions were worse than they had been on the previous occasions.

In all the confusion Banks hadn't even noticed the holy water had burnt his hand, or if he did he was enjoying the pain too much to comment.

Nothing was working, he had to give it a shot. "Why not me Banks, let the Slayer and her watcher go and you can have me, I’m sure a demon knight tastes as good as a slayer, if not better, especially if you do kill me, there wont be any more demon knights left," He was beginning to worry himself now he was hoping o play off the vampires ego "just think, you'll not only have a great feast but you'll be the vampire that killed the last Demon knight"

Amanda was breathing heavily, but managed to lift her gaze to Banks. "You want me, you come and get me!"

"Hey get in line, I'm only to happy to feed off all of you." Banks said smiling.

Clayton's convulsions seemed to get suddenly worse, then stopped for no apparent reason.

"Oops!" Banks said allowed as he realised Clayton had stopped breathing and he couldn't feel a pulse any longer.

He looked at his current situation, he'd underestimated the Slayer. Now it was time to go, there would be other nights.

He threw the Watchers corpse at the Slayer, hitting her then dived out of the unboarded window.

Travis looked at Amanda "Amanda GO! Get the bastard ill take care of him"

he bent over and felt for a pulse, there was none. "Shit" he knelt over him and began CPR. "One, two, three, four, five, breathe.!"

"Uncle Clayton!" Amanda ran to her uncle, not caring where Banks was going. It was only when she reached him that she realised he wasn't breathing.

Amanda started to breathe harder. So many thoughts flooded her head as to what she should do, but she did none of them. For once in her life she felt totally helpless.

Travis' 1st attempt didn't work, though it was hampered by the straight jacket Clayton was still wearing.

He stopped CPR for a sec, checked again for a pulse, "DAMMIT! Amanda GET AFTER him NOW! he ripped of Clayton's straightjacket care fully. He'll be alright!" he started again.

Amanda sat on the floor next to her Uncle, with tears rolling down her cheeks. The only thing she could do was stare at him... lying there.

Selwin ran to the window to see where Banks went .

The ground below the window was empty, Banks had gone in all the confusion.

Travis' 2nd attempt at CPR was also proving unsuccessful, Clayton was still not responding.

"Dammit" Travis was getting stressed, "Come on Clayton! Come on!" He continued CPR.

Selwin turned back. "He's gone."

Looking down at Travis he asked, "Need any help" He thought about comforting Amanda, then remembered he liked the number of fingers he had.

Amanda just sat there, physically unable to move. She'd let him down, she'd let everyone down.

When Travis checked Clayton for the third time he still wasn't breathing and had no pulse.

Travis was about to break under the stress, "Come on Clayton GOD DAMN WAKE UP!!" One last try!

Travis tried again, and at the moment he was about to give up and call it he felt Clayton Gasp for breath on his own. And when he checked he could feel a faint pulse.

Clayton was confused, one minute he'd been heading towards a bright light, then it was gone. He wondered what was going on.

Amanda blinked hard to clear her vision. "Uncle Clayton?" She said quietly, with a wavering voice.

Travis, leant his head in his hands, and sighed. "He's alive..."

Clayton could here a voice, he knew immediately who it was. His eyes flickered open, and his vision slowly cleared to reveal Amanda, blotchy faced from crying. "A.....Amanda, What happened?"

Selwin let a silent breath out. Thank god for that. Now Clayton was safe, he turned his mind to other things. He decided to investigate what had gone on up here.

There was one room with a door that was unlocked, it was a small cell, with a boarded window, a simple bed with a rather disgusting mattress, and the dead body of a young woman.

Selwin checked the woman looking for and ID. After that he stepped out of the room. "So that must be where they kept Clayton, where did Banks and his boys hide?" He walked further down the corridor.

The remaining rooms were locked, if they had been staying here they had left very little evidence.

Suddenly everything that had been holding Amanda upright melted away. She collapsed onto the floor, and fought to catch her breath.

As she lay there, only one thought entered her mind, she was never going to let this happen again - never.

Travis sat back, it was the first time he'd seen Amanda smile, and despite the tears she was beautiful. He smiled to himself. "We'd better get you some treatment sir,"

Clayton reached out his right arm, and rested his hand on Amanda's knee. "I knew you'd come, it'll be ok." Turning his head, he looked at the young man, "Careful, Ri....ribs broken." His head was still throbbing, his ribs hurt and he could feel the pain in his right leg. The left side of his body was still numb, Banks would pay for this. Clayton would make sure of it.

Amanda struggled to her knees, and just looked at her Uncle for a moment. Then the tears returned, and she hugged him. "I missed you!" She muttered, between snatched breaths.

Clayton reached out his good arm, putting it round Amanda's shoulders. "I...I missed you too, Fraggle. I missed you too." He paused, wincing at a wave of pain washed over him from his broken ribs. Trying to crack a smile, he said "So, any chance of getting me some help? I'm in quite a bit of pain here."

"Selwin, get help from down stairs, get one of the orderlies up here now!"

Travis looked at the two of them, family, together. "Mr Clayton, I’m Travis Thompson, we have get you some help ok? Amanda, sit back don't crowd him."

Selwin looked back at the small group. "That might not be the best idea. Unless you have a convincing explanation as to why we are here, why Clayton is so badly injured and why there is a woman dead, with her throat cut in that room. If he can be moved, I would suggest we return him to the Castle and find alternate medical attention."
 

Amanda forced herself away from her Uncle. She didn't want to let go for fear of losing him again, but he needed hospital attention. Taking a deep breath, she tried to regain some kind of composure.

"He can’t be moved, he's too badly injured, we can think of something . Sir don't move, Amanda don't jostle him, you could injure him," Travis fished for his mobile and dialled 911, then realised he was in the wrong country, and dialled 999.

"Hello? I need an ambulance, at Garlands Mental institute now, 5th floor."

The Epilogue…

They managed to move Clayton down the stairs and into the car park, it had been Clayton's suggestion that they move him much to Travis' displeasure.

The Ambulance turned up, and when asked all of them claimed that Clayton had been a victim of a severe beating.

Even at the hospital they stuck to their story, Travis, Selwin and Simon went home. Amanda refused to leave him.

The doctors couldn't figure how some of the injuries had been attained but after a week Clayton much to Amanda's disapproval discharged himself.

As for Banks, he was missing he'd cleared out of the city, whether it was for good was anyone's guess.

The End?… Think again!