New Beginnings

Chapter 2
Meeting Buffy



A short time later in the his bedroom, Julian Luna sat an armchair over looking a huge garden, brooding on the meeting he had with Buffy Summers, now named Lissa Winters. It was unexpected, but intriguing. Listening to her story, had struck a cord in him. One look from those luminous hazel eyes and he was putty. As a Slayer she was formidable, but fear was not the response she had elicited in him. Even vulnerable, weak, she had aroused all his senses. Did he need the sort of complication she would bring, he asked him self. His heart shouted a resounding yes.


A couple of days later, a chauffer driven car drove thru the mansion gates. Shading her eyes against the harsh morning sun, Lillie Langtry slipped on a pair of sunglasses as she exited the car. Lillie, who was Julian’s sometimes girlfriend and head of the Toreador’s Clan, entered the mansion. She was loaded down with shopping bags. For the last couple of weeks she had been in Los Angeles, recruiting singers for her nightclub “the Haven.”


She paused to nod hello to the butler, who had opened the door, who then unburdened her of her packages. Hearing footsteps thundering down the staircase, she frowned slightly. She looked up to see Sasha running down the steps. With an affected smile, she asked. “Where’s Julian?” as Sasha drew near.


Julian and Lillie once shared a great love. But years passed and other people came between them and to complicated matters, they now shared the same home. Sometimes petty jealousies interfered with their friendship. Because they were once lovers, Lillie sometimes thought she had control over Julian. She was a very beautiful woman. She was a tall, lissome, auburn haired woman with high cheekbones, pale white skin, which were almost translucent and light piercing green eyes.


“With his guest,” said Sasha, pausing briefly.


“What guest?” Lillie said, blinking with surprise. Before she had left, Julian hadn’t said anything about inviting anyone over.


“Uncle Julian’s guest,” Sasha said cheekily, just to get Lillie’s goat.


“Sasha!” Lillie warned, not willing to tolerate any nonsense.


“Uncle Julian’s guest was in an accident and he brought her here to recuperate, ” Sasha said quickly.


“Her?” Lillie’s voice rose in surprise.


“Yes,” Sasha said, giving Lillie a sidelong glance.


“Where are they,” Lillie asked, her face pinched tight.


“They are in the in the parlor,” said Sasha, gesturing up the stairs.


Lillie nodded, and strode pass her.


On the way to the front door, Sasha paused as she had a disturbing thought. Lillie did not like any female around her Uncle Julian, what if she did something to frighten Lissa away? After meeting Lissa earlier, she knew they would become friends. She sensed a kindred spirit. Then she dismissed that thought, if Lillie was up to any tricks, then her Uncle Julian was there to stop her. And with that happy thought, she walked out the front door keeping to the shadows.


Lillie hesitated for a moment. Do I want to meet this person? She shakes her head slightly and continues up the stairs and into the parlor. Who is this guest? In all the years I knew Julian, he is constantly surprising me. He always was picking up strays.


Inside the parlor, Julian Luna was sitting closely by a young woman of indefinite age. There was a small table between them with chess pieces scattered across the table. They were laughing and talking as they played. Lillie had not seen Julian this happy since Archon’s death. A fierce jealousy pierced her and her eyes turned a dark gray, showing the predator within. She gritted her teeth. Smiling tightly, she walked into the room “There you are, darling” she said to Julian, walking over to kiss him on his cheek. At that moment, she seemed to say to Buffy, “This is my man, keep away.”


However, Buffy, not the type to back away from a challenge, just nodded graciously. Wow, she is beautiful, Buffy thought. This must be the Lillie I heard so much about.


“Hello,” said Julian, jumping up reflexively, surprised. “Lillie, I did not know you were back.”


“Apparently,” she said, irked by his surprise. This is my home. He shouldn’t be that surprised to see me. “Who is this?” she said gesturing to Buffy.


“This is Lissa. Lissa was in an accident several days ago and I invited her to stay here, as long as she needed to recuperate.” A tense silence seemed to envelop the room.


“Here!” Lillie said, clearly surprised. “Why here? What happened to the hospital? They would have taken better care of her there.”


“She had the best of care here,” said Julian in a tone of voice that seemed to say, ‘don’t question me.’ Ignoring the outburst, Julian turned to Buffy and introduced her. “Elisabeth Winters meet Lillie Langtry, Lillie Langtry meet Elisabeth Winters.”


“Lillie is a friend of mine,” he said aside to Buffy.


“Friends, Julian?” said Lillie, eyes blinking with incredulity. “I thought we were more than friends.”


“Lillie, you did not greet, Ms. Winters,” Julian admonished his tone was coolly disapproving.


Sudden anger lit her eyes. “Miss Winters,” she acknowledged, with gritted teeth. “It is a Miss, isn’t it?”


“Yes, it is Miss,” Buffy said, her brow creased with worry. She didn’t like the undercurrent, she sensed going on.


“Are you happy now,” asked Lillie, giving Julian a hostile stare.


“What?” he asked bewilder, his brows furrowed. “I just asked you to be polite to my guest. What did I do,” he asked, turning to Buffy.


“Leave me out of it,” she said, wrinkling her nose and shaking her head. It is just like a man, she thought. Never know when they mess up. “I am not here to give you any clueage.”


“Julian,” Lillie began, through stiff lips. “Excuse us, Miss Winters,” she said, dragging Julian over to the door.


“No prob…” Buffy said, her voice trailing off, because she was talking to her self. She looked at them and shrugged, playing with the chess pieces. “I’d rather be elsewhere anyway.”


With both hands on her hips, Lillie confronts Julian. “Look Julian, what’s going on here? Why is she here? Please don’t tell me you couldn’t have her brought to a hospital,’’ Lillie asked, resentment sounding in her voice.


A shadow of annoyance crossed his face. “Look Lillie, I do not need you to question my judgment,” said Julian, his voice cold and exact.


“I can’t believe you are willing to break the masquerade,” she said, irritated by his tone of voice. “Haven’t you learned anything from your involvement with Caitlin?” she accused.


“This is not about Caitlin.” How dare she questioned my motives? “Can’t I do a good deed, without you or anyone questioning my loyalty? I would not do anything to break the masquerade. I am the Prince of this city and this is my home, I can invite whomever I please. Now excuse me, I have left my guest long enough,” said Julian, pushing Lillie aside and walking back to where Buffy was sitting.


Lillie glared at Buffy. The interloper. I am not going to let some human come between us. “It is my house too,” Lillie whispered, stalking out of the room. She was so angry she could spit. How dare he treat her like a second-class citizen? What’s up with Julian and blondes? First, there was Alexandra, then Caitlin, now this person Elisabeth Winters. She won’t last long. They never do. Then I will have him all to myself.


***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***


Damm, thought Julian. Lillie has always been jealous of any woman I have paid attention to. It is hard having an ex living with you. It would be easier and simpler if I could just kick her out. But after living together for thirty years, it would be cruel. Plus, this was her home. Now here is Buffy, Lissa. There is something special about her. Not just being the slayer. I want to get to know her. I should have just brought her to the hospital, but she had looked so helpless and fragile that I had wanted to take care her.


“Are you okay?” asked Buffy, interrupting his thoughts. She had heard what they said. Super hearing. She wasn’t trying to eavesdrop. Much. She saw the look that Lillie had given her. That was one person she had to watch carefully.


“Yeah, I am okay,” said Julian, girding himself with resolve. He decided to act natural, putting on the charm. “Where was I? Ah, yes, I remember,” he said, eyes twinkling. “I was beating you at chess.”


“Beating me? Only in your dreams,” Buffy retorted, glad to see that he was back to his charming self. “I had you exactly where I wanted you.”


“And where was that?” Julian said, smiling slightly.


“Right here,” she said, blushing slightly. “Let’s get down to business,” Buffy said, allowing Julian to sit back down beside her. In a few moves, Buffy had captured his queen. “Checkmate!” She crowed, jumping up and down in glee. “I won, I won.”


Julian watched as the woman jumped up and down in carefree abandonment. Her chest was heaving enticingly in the borrowed shirt of Julian’s niece Sasha, her long golden hair was gleaming brightly in the room. His stomach muscles tightened and the breath slammed out of his lungs. God, she is beautiful.


Noticing Julian’s preoccupation, Buffy went over to him and asked, “What is it?”


Making an effort, Julian said, “I am happy.”


“You don’t look happy or sounded happy,” Buffy said concerned.


“I am happy,” said Julian. “If I wasn’t happy, my magic finger would not go walking.”


“Your what!” laughed Buffy startled.


“My magic finger,” Julian said, smiling. Her laughter was infectious, but it sounded rusty. How long since she has laughed and how long since I’ve laughed?


“What does this magic finger do?” Buffy said laughter in her voice.


“This!” he said, pouncing suddenly on the helpless Buffy, tickling her.


“No!” she yelled. “Please stop. Stop! I can’t take it anymore,” she said, laughing wildly.


***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***


Downstairs, the front door crashed open. The butler who was standing behind the door, had to hurry to get out of the way of being crushed. “Where’s Julian,” Cash demanded.


“The parlor,’’ he said, gesturing vaguely upwards.


Cash quickly dashed up the stairs. He needed to see Julian right away. He had some news, and he didn’t know how it would affect the Kindred. He paused outside the parlor door, trying to catch his breath, then he proceeded to knock at the door, but there was no response. He turned the doorknob, putting his head around the door, because he could hear laughter inside. It sounded like Julian! But it can’t be him. Julian Luna doesn’t participate in horseplay. He pushed the door open. What he saw was astonishing. Dignified Julian Luna was on the floor rolling around in laughter with his guest. He cleared his throat several times, trying to get their attention.


“Excuse me, Julian,” Cash said looking at the wall and not on the spectacle in front of him. “Boss? Yo, boss.” As Julian’s bodyguard, Cash was opposite of what a bodyguard should look like. He was small-boned of medium height with spiked straw colored blond hair. He was sporting a five o’clock shadow and he was wearing a faded tight blue denim jeans, with holes at the knee. Black leather jacket and faded gray t -shirt. He also exudes an air of strength that made him a great bodyguard.


Amidst the laughter and fun, Cash’s voice caught Julian’s attention and the laughter abruptly died in his throat. He swiveled slowly, turning his head towards the door where he saw his bodyguard, Cash.


Now having Julian’s attention, Cash said. “Sorry for interrupting, Boss, but it is business.”


In a lightening fast motion, Julian got up, hauling Buffy with him. He was no longer the smiling courtier, but a Prince who had the whole city resting on his shoulders.


“Is everything okay,” Buffy asked, touching his cheek, the skin cold beneath her fingertips.


He sighed. Regarding Buffy carefully, he lightly fingered a loose tendril of her hair carefully around his fingers. “Everything is fine,” he said, smiling down at her.


“Boss,” Cash said, his voice held a hint of impatience.


Julian nods and then he let Cash guide him towards the door, where he whispered a few sentences into his ear. The only movement, to show that what Cash had told him was disturbing was the slightly tensing of his jaw; Julian nodded in dismissal, to Cash. He turned to Buffy, who was picking up fallen chess pieces. “I am sorry, little one, I have to leave. There is some business that I need to take care of,” Julian said, drawing Buffy to her feet.


“I know,” Buffy said. “I heard. Kindred business.”


“Yes,” he acknowledged. “I am sorry that we cannot continue our game.”


“That’s okay,” said Buffy smiling slightly. “Maybe next time you might actually win a game.”


“Brat,” he said, smiling fondly down at her. “Sasha will be here to keep you company and then she will take you shopping. You cannot continue to wear someone else’s clothes.”


“Shopping. Yeah!” she said, in enthusiasm.


“Will you be alright?” asked Julian walking towards the door. He paused, turning to look at her.


“I am fine. Go already,” said Buffy, dismissing him. Her mind was already on the beautiful clothes she was going to buy.