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The scent of incense that burned in the dimly lit room increased the ominous atmosphere of the current surroundings. The shadow of a woman danced upon the walls as the candlelight flickered with every one of her movements. She sat cross-legged facing a pot of burning magical ingredients. Her arms were thrust up towards the heavens along with her eyes. She appeared to be in a trance and was chanting in an old, forgotten, gypsy language. As her chanting grew more intense, her body began to convulse and a bright, green light emanated from the burning pot. The green light turned into a huge green cloud, which flew away from the pot and hung in midair a few feet away from the woman. She yelled out one final word and there was a flash of blinding light. The woman collapsed into unconsciousness with a quiet thud. For a brief moment, it was if time stood still. Nothing moved in the small room. The green cloud had disappeared, but underneath where it once had been was the body of an adolescent. This teenager's long black hair was styled into a braid flowing down her back. Her skin was dark and even darker under the candlelight. The teenager opened her eyes and surveyed her surroundings cautiously. Sitting up, her first instinct was to bring her hand to her throat. Satisfied with finding nothing wrong, the teenager eyed the unconscious woman lying on the floor. Standing up, the teenager walked over to the woman prudently and checked for her pulse. As soon as the teenager's fingers touched the woman's neck, the woman's eyes flew open. In a swift motion, the woman was standing, consequently knocking over the teenager. As soon as the teenager got a good look at the woman, she spoke two words. "Ms. Calendar?" The older woman looked at the teenager in confusion and bewilderment. "How... how did you know my name?" The teenager also looked perplexed. "This is very strange. The last thing I remember was fighting... and then..." The older woman did not appear to be listening. "They sent you." She looked at the teenager. "I prayed that they would help us and they sent you...." The teenager looked at the older woman in confusion. "Ms. Calendar, what are you talking about? Where is Buffy and Mr. Giles?" The older woman laughed. "Don't you understand? You are here... now... to help us." The teenager had no idea what the older woman was talking about. All of a sudden, she shivered and looked down at her body. To her astonishment, she wasn't wearing any clothing. Ms. Calendar looked at the teenager and came to the same realization. "Oh, forgive me." Turning around she went through some drawers and procured some clothing for the adolescent. "Here, put these on." As the teenager dressed, the older woman kept on mumbling to herself. Ms. Calendar then yelped in surprise. "Of course! I didn't realize that the alignment of the planets would have made the spell that powerful!" As soon as the teenager had finished dressing, she faced Ms. Calendar. "Now, could you please explain what is going on, Ms. Calendar?" asked the teenager. "I prayed to my gods that they would send us help and here you are." stated Ms. Calendar. She paused, looking the teenager up and down. "What is your name?" "I am Kendra, the Vampire Slayer." "A Slayer..." said Ms. Calendar slowly. "But, wait a minute. There is already a Slayer." "Yes, I know, Buffy. Where is she?" "I don't know where the Slayer is at this time. But how could you be the Slayer if there is already one?" "That is a long story." Kendra reflected upon what Ms. Calendar said. "But what do you mean, she is not here? Last time I saw her, she was going to fight Angelus and then I was fighting Drusilla..." "Angelus? You mean Angel?" Kendra nodded. Ms Calendar continued, "but that's not possible. The Slayer has never been to Sunnydale. We would have noticed a difference." Kendra was about to respond when something dawned on her. "Wait a minute! What are you doing here? You're dead! Angelus killed you!" "I can assure you that I am very much alive." replied Ms. Calendar, bemused. "And about Angel, he wouldn't hurt anyone without just cause, him having his soul and all." "There is something very wrong here." said Kendra as she contemplated what could possibly be going on. "No matter with that now. You were brought here for a reason." "And that would be?" "To help us." "Who is 'us'?" "Everyone. The entire world." Kendra again looked at her with confusion. "Have you no idea what has been happening?" Kendra shook her head. "How could you not know? The whole world has been afflicted by what happened." Kendra did not respond to Ms. Calendar's statement. She merely revised the whole sequence of events that transpired the moment she opened her eyes in this room. "What year is it?" "Huh?" asked Ms. Calendar. "What year is it?" Ms. Calendar shrugged her shoulders; uncertain of why the adolescent requested that information. "It's 1997." Kendra's eyes opened wide. "So, you're telling me that Buffy has never been to Sunnydale, it's 1997, you're alive, and I am here to help the entire world?" Ms. Calendar nodded. "There is definitely something not right about this." "Why do you keep saying that?" asked Ms. Calendar. "Ms. Calendar, I don't think that I belong here." "What? Where?" "This time... this world!" Ms. Calendar gave her a quizzical look. "What is the last thing that you remember before waking up here?" Kendra thought about it for a moment. "First of all, the year was 1998. I was fighting Drusilla. She and some vampires attacked the library, injuring Willow, Xander and Mr. Giles. Buffy had gone to fight Angelus. I was fighting her when all of a sudden, I couldn't move. She had me under some sort of spell... How could I have been so stupid and fall into her trap?!" Kendra clenched her fists before continuing. "The next thing I knew, she had slit my throat. My hands went to my throat and I fell." She paused. "I can't remember anything after that except for waking up here." Ms. Calendar cleared her throat. "I don't understand how this is possible... Wait a second!" Rushing over to a shelf filled with books, she removed a rather thick volume. Skimming through the pages, her hand came to rest upon a page and she perused it quickly. A small smile crept upon her face as she continued to read. Closing the book, she looked at Kendra. "I believe that I understand what has happened." she stated. "The spell that I used to beg the gods for help becomes a whole lot more powerful with the correct alignment of the planets. What I believe transpired is that you were killed at the same exact time I performed this spell, however the year and universe was different, even though the alignment of the planets was exactly the same. The gods decided to send your soul here. That is the only possible explanation that I can come up with." Kendra merely looked at her with astonishment. She could not believe what she was hearing. She was dead, but she wasn't? This is too much, thought Kendra. Just as Kendra was about to make a comment, there was a loud crash outside of the room. "Damn!" swore Ms. Calendar. "They've found me already." "Who? Who has found you?" asked Kendra, unsure about what was occurring. The noise coming from outside the room got louder. "The Master's assassins." replied Ms. Calendar. "The Master..." Kendra's voice trailed. I know that name, but from where? "You must leave. Now!" declared Ms. Calendar, ushering Kendra towards the window. Kendra stepped through the window, onto the ledge. "Find Angel. He can help you," was the last thing that Ms. Calendar said to Kendra before slamming the window down and turning to the door which was about to be broken down by the vampires behind it. "But Ms. Calendar-" started Kendra, but the older woman had already turned her back on her. Ms. Calendar ran across the room to grab a stake and cross, however she was unable to make it. A pair of vampires broke down the door and jumped at Ms. Calendar. The two vampires held Ms. Calendar while a third vampire walked through the door. Kendra watched as the new vampire walked towards Ms. Calendar. The vampire caressed Ms. Calendar's cheek, causing Ms. Calendar to spit on him. The vampire struck her across the face, drawing blood. "Well, that wasn't very nice Janna," said the vampire, who, was obviously the leader. "You worried us, running around and casting spells; trying to stop us." He caressed her hair. "But that's all going to stop now, isn't it Janna?" Before she could respond, the vampire leader bit her neck, relishing in the taste of her blood. Ms. Calendar's body collapsed to the floor, lifeless. The vampire leader's face returned to normal and Kendra got a good look at him. No! It can't be, thought Kendra. "Xander?" she said breathlessly. At the sound of his name, the vampire looked in the direction of the window and saw a beautiful, black girl staring at him in bewilderment. Their eyes met and lingered upon each other for a few seconds. Breaking the gaze, Kendra jumped off the ledge and ran into the night in search of an Angel. << Back Next >> |