A Slayer's Tale

--

"Are you sure, Elizabeth?" Rupert said, as he paced along the floor and cleaned his glasses.

"Well, " she frowned. "Not entirely sure, Rupert. But she was very strong. Nobody I know could defend themselves the way that she did."

"Well, of course I trust your judgement. But I still have never known of there being another Slayer while the current one is still alive. I just don't know how such a thing could be possible." He put his glasses back on, after succeeding in making them the cleanest pair in the world.

"I'll do some research, dear. In the meantime, just patrol as usual." He said to her. The thoughts in his head were not good ones, but he kept up appearances.

--

Larissa sat alone in her room, which was dimly lit with a few sparse candles. She worked intently on the trinket, which she had purchased weeks ago. She still had no idea how it worked, as the mysterious shopkeeper had given her no instructions as to its use. That was part of the bargain.

"No clues, young lady.." The ancient looking man had said to her. "You must learn this yourself. But the rewards will be..incredible." A wicked smile had crossed his wrinkled face as he slid the rectangular object to her.

Now she sat on the floor of her room, the dim candlelight barely enough to see by. The device had consumed her over the last several days. She barely took time to sleep, eat or drink. Her every waking thought was of the wooden and metallic item that she held in her hands. She ran her hands over its surface now, in a random pattern, searching for it's hidden secret.

This process was her final step. She just knew it.

Larissa had done it all, seen it all. Her exploration into the world of the unknown had lasted for years, spanning endless tomes and participation in rituals. Now after years of questing and questioning, finally she had the answer. It was there in her hands.

She knew little about the device itself, except that it originated far from her own birthplace. Plus that it promised immense unclaimed treasures.

So intent was she on solving the device that she didn't even notice the melody that began to emanate from the small, ornately adorned square. It was slight and imperceptible, so that she knew no difference in her surroundings. Up until now, there had seemed to be no solving point. There was a strange logic to the device that was almost unnoticed.

~click~

She grinned broadly and her body jumped in surprise and excitement. The box jumped in her hands and began to reconfigure itself. Watching in awe as it moved and shifted in both of her outstretched palms. At the same time the room began to shake, the walls rumbling and glowing in anticipation of the coming darkness.

Larissa only watched in awe. This is what she had been waiting for. A new player was entering the game, as the prophet of the Order Of The Gash entered her living space.

Less than a minute later she was screaming for her life.


--


Elizabeth had only been out for an hour before she heard the scream.

She ran in the direction of the noise, quickly pulling her stake from under her dress. She had no idea who or what the source of the problem was, but she planned to lend her help. She held her dress with both hands, so that she could run quickly and unfettered.

And as she ran, she saw Faith. Elizabeth stopped in her tracks seeing the girl run toward the same source of sound that she was. Her heart skipped a beat at the mere sight of the running peasant. What was happening to her?

No! The victim! Remember? She regained her composure in less than a second and took up her running again, hitting the door at almost the same moment as the peasant girl. The wooden door exploded inward into splinters.

They looked at each other for a moment, then simultaneously ran into the next room.

Elizabeth gasped at the sight.

This was like nothing she had ever seen. The room was dank and wet with a scent of a metallic hue. Both of their senses were overwhelmed. Blood covered the floor and walls. The roof was draped with viscera, which intermittently dripped blood. The droplets fell the floor making sickly sounds as they collided with the layer of human life fluid, which they met.

As for whatever had done this, there was no trace.

Elizabeth ran from the room to vomit.

--

She sat in the alleyway composing herself, her hand stretched out against one wall to steady her dizziness. In all of her year, as the Slayer, she had seen nothing like the gruesome scene that she had just witnessed.

Rupert. She had to find Rupert. He would know what to do.

She felt a hand on her shoulder and spun reflexively, her hand drawn back. Wait. It was the girl. The peasant girl, Faith.

Faith stood, catching her own breath and holding out a handkerchief to her. Elizabeth took it.

"W-what could have done that?" the girl finally spoke.

After a short while Elizabeth finally answered. "I don't know. Are you alright?"

"Me? You're the one who was throwing her little guts out just a time ago." Faith laughed with the cutest York accent, which was typical of the lower class. Her confident smile made Elizabeth blush. Then they sat in silence for a while, and then Elizabeth finally spoke.

"I-I'm going to find my Watcher. He can help.." Then she turned to face the girl who still sat with her. "Will you come with me?"

Hearing the yelling of the nightly watch, Faith spoke quickly. "Sure! Just get us out of here, before they think we had something to do with this."

They ran as fast as they could from the scene, slowing only for the knowledge that they had put enough distance between themselves and the scene that they would no longer be stopped by anyone in regards to the watch's inquiries.

"So..why did you..?" Elizabeth searched for words. "Most people would have run from the sound of a scream like that."

"It sounded like someone needed help. I..I just wanted to help." Faith answered.

"Is that what you do?" Elizabeth asked, knowing that now she was really getting some information now. She knew that the instincts of a Slayer were to help people who needed it. Now she wanted to find out if this girl had those same instincts.

"Do you always help people who need it?"

"Not always." The girl stated, staring off as they walked. "Sometimes I just run away. Then I feel so bad."

"Well you certainly did run from me last night."

"Sorry `bout that ma'am. But I was surprised. And nobles scare me most times. You are a noble right?"

"Yes." Elizabeth said, feeling the fool for her lack of manners. Then she stopped, extended her hand, and curtsied. "I'm Lady Elizabeth Summerfield."

Faith was taken aback. Why would any noble curtsy to her? And why was this girl being so nice to her? This was definitely not the common behavior of anyone of the upper class. Usually they just dumped their urine in the streets, so that the commoners had to smell and walk in it. Then they walked around with handkerchiefs over their faces, acting perfectly as if it was the peasants who stank so badly. But this girl seemed so different.

"You are still coming with me, right? To meet my Watcher?"

The commoner shrugged. "Sure I suppose. What in hell is a Watcher, anyway?"

"He helps me." Elizabeth stated, contently as she continued to walk along the cobblestone path. The night was slowly turning to the total illumination of the moon. It sauntered overhead and cast its luminescence down upon the ground, reflecting from the occasional puddle.

"He'll help you too. Don't worry Faith. You're special. I don't know how it happened, but you are."

What the hell was this crazy noble talking about? She was special? What in the name of..

"Well..alright." Was her only response.

"Besides.." Elizabeth said, her face brightening. "It looks like you could use a nice meal."

Now she was talking. Food was definitely the subject of the day. Faith smiled.

"And I could give you a bath!" Elizabeth stopped dead in her tracks, realizing that her thoughts about the young girl had just blurted from her mouth. Now she was stammering for words to cover. "I mean..I could give you water..to take a bath in. And to be..clean"

Faith laughed.

"Food and a bath would be very nice, Beth. Thank you."