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*****

�Please�� Interrupted by another cough. �Please, child. Come with me.�

The slayer�s eyes widened as the woman led her across the cavern to a seemingly innocent wall. It swung aside silently to reveal a small, bare room. a prison cell. The old woman gestured towards the single chair, and Buffy sat on it. She watched as the Dragon Slayer shuffled over to the bed, and carefully sat on it.

�So. You�ve found me.�

Her eyes twinkled, and Buffy saw the kindness there. She leaned forward hesitantly.

�I�guess I have. I still don�t really know what I�m doing here�what I was looking for��

�You were looking for your destiny. Tell me, did you find him?�

�Who, my destiny?�

�No�the other Chosen One.�

�Okay�Buffy is confused. Perhaps we should start at the beginning.�

The old woman�s laugh quickly turned into another massive cough. Buffy stared and ran to the small jug on the side. She poured a glass of water, and the woman took it thankfully.

�To start at the beginning�I don�t think I have much time�left.�

�You�re�you�re dying?�

�No. But your future is.�

Buffy gave a nervous laugh. �Look, I�m no Willow�so you have to talk in the simple language. I..I don�t even know your name..�

�Lucille. Lucy to my friends�we must start now. I have...a story to tell you. It will explain.�

And she began to talk. And Buffy began to listen.

�It started roughly one hundred years ago. The former Slayer was dead, killed in China by a vampire. I was called, and I was both ready and willing for my duties. I had been taken away from my family by the Watcher�s Council since I was six years old. My Watcher was the only real family and companion I had. I was alone�it was the belief that a slayer should stand alone, laugh death in the face. So I began my term as the Vampire Slayer. I was good. One of the best. It is only the best that are strong enough�but I move ahead of myself. Well, one day, I met a vampire. He was strong and evil, but fast and clever. I couldn�t kill him, although I tried my hardest�.so very hard. It was a Sunday when it happened, as I recall. I was tracking him through the woods, when a blast of flame knocked me from my feet. I cried out, then lay still. From the corners of my eyes, I saw him standing there, and a huge beast flying away, far into the night sky. I told my Watcher, but he didn�t believe me. Then the Council seized me. They informed me that I was discharged from their service, and was no longer a Vampire Slayer. I was one of the Chosen Two. Once in every century, the Dragon Slayers are called. Two beings, one of the dark and one of the light, who are of skill and strength surpassing none. They alone can fight the dragons, and they alone will stand against them��

�This vampire�the one you hated��

�Jameson? Yes. He was the other Slayer. Our destinies had been entwined from the start�a Slayer and vampire combined to create the most powerful fighting machine to stand against the most powerful monsters...the dragons."�

�So...what happened?�

�I was removed from the lineage of Slayers. Another Chosen One was called, as though I were dead. My Watcher�s Diaries were destroyed, and my name erased from history. Jameson�s was too. A notorious killer in his day�now it�s as though he never existed.�

�And I�ve been picked for the job. Oh, how wonderful for me. and the Watcher�s Council never came to me about it�well, they wouldn�t would they, because I quit��

Buffy clenched her hands together tightly. If what Lucille told her was true, then it meant giving up school, her home, her family, her friends, her entire life to kill dragons. And spend eternity in the company of�

�Wait a minute. The Chosen Two...they have to stick together?�

�Oh yes. It�s easy to become insane, spending days alone, only killing. Always killing.�

The Slayer felt like screaming. < Why Spike? The powers That Be must really have it in for me. Why him, of all vampires�wait. Just because he had a vision�that doesn�t mean anything! >

�How did you�uh�know that it was Jameson? That he was the Yin to your Yang?�

�He was the only other one that saw the dragon. He was the only one that believed me. And�and��

�And what?�

�We did hate each other, yes. But the moment we fought the first dragon together, we knew. We made a connection.�

�Were you in love?�

Lucille stared, shocked by the straight forward manner of this girl. She seemed strong enough, but seemed uneducated in the ways of the Slayer. Quitting the Council? And all this talk of love, of passion�it was as though she hadn�t let the slaying consume her�as though she were almost human�

�Well? Were you?�

�No�we�became great friends. But Slayers never��

�Never love? Never break the rules? Guess I�m not meant for the job after all��

She sensed the girl�s unease. Grabbed her hands. Looked her straight in the eye, with a piercing glare.

�You were born to do this. It is an honour. Not simply a Slayer, but the best in her lifetime? You�ve surely felt�the thrill of the slay�the feeling when everything works as it should�everything to it�s own natural harmony��

Buffy nodded, spellbound.

�This is the ultimate kill. The only way to live. You were built for this, and you were made for each other�it is destined. Can�t you see now?�

The Slayer blinked. Understanding filled her mind, and she felt older somehow.

�I see.�

*****

�I can�t see a bloody...thing!� Spike yelled, stamping along the tunnel. It wasn�t night black, but so dark that it was constantly uncomfortable for his eyes. He blinked, and felt a surge of pure anger that he hadn�t felt since�well, since he�d started to play it up to the Slayer. Since he�d started wanting to make her fall in love with him.

�Stupid sod!� He punctuated each word with a solid kick to the stone wall.

�I�love�the�Slayer! And�she�hates�me! I�don�t�want�to�kill�her�but�if� she�doesn�t�make�this�pain�stop�I�might...HAVE TO!�

He screamed the last two words, and they echoed around the tunnel. Spike stooped kicking, and stood back, running his hands through his hair. He suddenly realised that he was cold, and that his duster was missing.

< Oh yeah. The Slayer was wearing it. Hoo-bloody-ray. >

The tunnel had forked yet again, and although he�d decided long ago that the Slayer wasn�t in this tunnel, he carried on. The stench of death was less profound, although the scent of blood had increased. Humans always thought that blood smelt like rotting bodies. How wrong they were�it was like the sweetest perfume, heavy and intoxicating�they described its taste like copper, but to him it was pure gold�

Something moved in the shadows.

�What the��

�Hello.�

Spike spun around. He couldn�t see the creature, but it spoke English.

�Alright mate, why don�t you come out. On second thoughts, don�t bother. I won�t be able to see you anyway in this bloody gloom. I�ll keep walking, you stay here, and everybody�s..�

Spike�s hand snaked out, quicker than a viper�s strike, and closed around the creature�s neck.

�Happy.�

He held him aloft, and knew that it was a vampire. A male vampire, somewhere between three or four centuries old. And that was old. With age came respect, and because Spike had never followed the rules this fact made him tighten his grip. He thought he heard a choked chuckle, and the other vampire spoke.

�Put�me�down.�

�Why? Don�t you like flying?�

Spike waved the vampire around in the air. For all his age he was extremely�light.

Another hoarse chuckle. �Only if it�s on the back of a dragon.�

Spike dropped him as though he were a cross.

�Who the hell are you? What do you know about dragons? And do you know�why I�m here?�

�I�m Jameson. I know more about dragons than anyone else alive�there used to be another�but she�s gone. And you�re here because you made a connection.�

The older vampire < Jameson > laughed again gleefully, youthfully, and ran away. Spike sighed, exasperated, and followed.

Jameson rounded the corner and leaned against the wall of his cavern. He had been forced to abandon his human visage years ago, and his vampiric ridges made the frown lines deeper. He thought again of the young vampire chasing him, and his brow creased once more, this time in frustration. This one was a rebel without a cause. He disobeyed the rules, and he talked back.

�But he is the strongest. The best. Has the world changed so much since I walked on it?�

Spike heard the whispered words as he rounded the corner.

< Is he talking about me? The strongest. The best? > He felt a sudden rush of adrenaline at the thought. Jameson looked at him, and Spike stared back.

�We need�we need��

�Yes?�

�We need to start�at the beginning.�

*****

�Heads up!�

�Shut up!�

Xander landed on the floor of the enormous chamber with a thud. His friends all looked at him, and he shrugged.

�Just trying to lighten the��

�I mean it! Be quiet.�

Giles looked anxious. Xander frowned. Anxious meant trouble. But then so did most of Giles� facial expressions�

Willow pointed. �I think I saw something over there�a raised stone�perhaps a plinth?�

�Shhhhhhh!�

They all looked at him again.

�What? Willow can talk, but the second I open my mouth you all make out like we�re in avalanche country. Well, newsflash. We aren�t. Watch. HELLO? HI? IS ANYBODY THERE?�

Deep in the bowels of the cavern, something stirred.

�Xander!� Anya punched him. Hard.

He nearly yelled, but Giles made a warning sign. A very definite warning sign. So he didn�t say a word. Giles motioned for them all to investigate the raised plinth. Tara opened her mouth as she ran her hands over the figure on top.

It was an ornately decorated dragon.

Excited whispers filled the air.

�She told me it was a dragon�why couldn�t I just be more open-minded��

�I mean, this is the Hellmouth, what do you expect��

�If only we�d listened��

�I bet Spike listened. I bet he provided a very convenient shoulder to cry on��

�Oh, Xander, shut up!�

�Dragons...this is so exciting�and new��

They all noticed four things at about the same time. Firstly, that Xander had shut up, and was staring at a fixed point behind them all in a decidedly disturbing manner. Secondly, that the clicking noise they�d all dismissed as imagination or nerves had almost certainly been claws. Thirdly, that the flapping gusts of wind they�d all dismissed as imagination or nerves had almost certainly been caused by wings.

Fourthly, that the claws and wings almost certainly belonged to an enormous, fire snorting, bonafide, standing right behind them, dragon.

*****

Buffy stood up, helping Lucille to her feet.

�Thankyou. For helping me to understand. I�ll get you out.�

�He is powerful...Jameson and I couldn�t defeat him��

�And that�s why another Dragon Slayer hasn�t been called properly.�

�Your premonitions�led you here. You aren�t the Dragon Slayer yet. Be careful.�

There was a sudden chorus of screams. The Slayer�s eyes widened.

�Trouble. It sounds like�but it can�t be��

�Can�t be who?�

�My friends..�

Lucille shook her head again in amazement. She clasped Buffy�s hands with her own.

�You have more to loose than most�I�m sorry.�

Buffy tried to smile. She pictured her friend�s faces, and instinct kicked in. She had to save them. See them one last time.

�I�m sorry too.�

*****

�I�m the Slayer? The bloody Slayer?�

�Not the Slayer. A Slayer. And a Dragon Slayer at that.�

�And I have to spend the rest of my unlife helping the Slayer?�

�She�s not the Slayer. She�s a Slayer too.�

�Of course she�s a Slayer. So the Slayer and I��

�Are both Slayers.�

�The Slayer�s really going to hate that��

There was a sudden chorus of screams. Spike looked up.

�I�d recognise that girlish squeal anywhere.�

�The Slayer?�

�Xander.�

Jameson looked puzzled, and Spike sighed.

�Suppose I�d better go and help. For the last time��

�Be careful. The dragon that imprisoned me here is very strong�you haven�t yet acquired your full powers..�

Spike turned to go, then stopped.

�One more thing. What the hell happened to your Slayer?�

Jameson looked sad. �She�s dead, I suppose. When Darius captured me, she tried to fight�he struck her down.�

Spike shrugged, and left. Jameson looked down the tunnel after him and sighed.

�This is the last time I do this. Insolent young idiot��

And followed the bleached blonde.

*****

Willow stirred. She felt groggy, and realised that she couldn�t move.

< Oh no. I�m paralysed. I�ll have to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair, and some old nurse will have to bathe me, and I�ll wither away into nothing�I�ll never run again� >

She then realised that Giles was lying unconscious on her arm, with Anya and Xander covering the rest of her body. There was no sign of Tara, which immediately worried her.

�Guys. Guys! Wake up, please wake up, I can�t do this by myself��

< Funny. I don�t know how the dragon got us here�I don�t remember anything except the bit where it flew at us� >

Something moved in the corner of her vision. She turned her head and stared at it.

It was Tara.

�Tara! Thank God�I thought t had eaten you or something��

�Where are the Slayers?�

Willow�s eyes widened at the voice Tara spoke with. It was dry and hissing�almost� reptilian. Her lover�s eyes glowed, burning blue orbs�burning�

�You�re�am I talking to�the dragon?�

�I am Darius. Older than the mountains, stronger than the wind. Where are the Slayers, girl?�

�You mean Buffy and�Faith?�

�One more time��

�Okay! Buffy�s here, somewhere, and Faith�s�Faith�s in prison.�

�You lie. You dare to lie to me, child?�

Willow could feel the nervous tears roll down her face as Tara dragged her from underneath the bodies of her friends with unnatural grace and strength. Supernatural.

�Please�you don�t know what you�re doing�Tara! Tara�if you�re there...please!� Her voice broke and she started to sob as the blonde girl�s hands closed about Willow�s throat.

�Again. Where are the Slayers?�

�Tara�please��

The hands tightened their grip. Willow�s breath caught in her throat, and she tried to scream, cry out. In the deepest shadows she thought she saw a dragging tail and the faintest breath of smoke.

�I�.love�you��

�Where. Are. They.�

�I don�t know about all this they stuff, but I�m right here.�

Tara dropped the red head to the floor. She rubbed at the bruises on her neck, and looked up through tearstained eyes. Buffy stood before the normally shy blonde. Tara just stood there, glaring at the Slayer. Then a satisfied smile crossed her face. She walked closer.

�So this is the human. Passionate, fiery, a perfect candidate�shall we?�

�Shall we what?�

�Dance.�

Tara planted a hand on Buffy�s chest and pushed her. She stumbled and fell to the floor. The taller girl moved with amazing speed to grab the Slayer�s arm. It was almost as if she flew�Tara twisted Buffy�s arm behind her back. A grim smile flashed across the Slayer�s face. She flipped Tara over her head, then delivered a series of kicks to the girl�s midriff.

�Looks like someone�s got two left feet. Oh whoops. It�s me.�

Buffy punched Tara hard in the face, twice.

�Got two left hooks as well.�

The other girl slumped to the floor. Her mouth opened and a burst of flame shot out. Willow�s eyes widened as charcoal surrounded Tara�s mouth. She crawled over to her and held her tightly.

�Thanks Buffy...the others..�

�Are now fully conscious.� Giles looked groggily into the darkness. �I don�t think it�s over yet.�

A low rumbling filled the cavern. Anya clung to Xander, and the Scoobies all turned their heads to the far corner of the cavern. The sound died away, and Buffy saw something approaching in the darkness.

�Here we go�Spike?�

�Alright Slayer�and now you can say that to me��

�Spike!�

Buffy screamed as a large black shape plucked him from the ground. It�flew�with alarming speed to where the Slayerettes were standing, and dropped Spike on to the floor. He didn�t move. Buffy looked up, and saw the black shape slowly descend.

Heavy claws touched rocky ground.

Darius was magnificent. Flame red claws with wicked sharp points. Smooth black scales with jet black wings. Eyes like obsidian and teeth like icicles. A slender body, covered in muscle and catlike grace.

She had not been prepared for this. And she was not prepared to fight alone.

Spike didn�t want to open his eyes. He wanted to lie there on the floor and wait until the Slayer had done her job. This was one fight he didn�t want.

< Listen to yourself. That bloody chips done more than neuter you�it�s made you loose your edge! Spike always wants a fight�and I can�t let the Slayer do her job. Now it�s my job too.�

The bloody holes in his back had started to close, but he felt stiff and awkward. With a loud groan he staggered to his feet and glared at Buffy.

< Her fault. If she wasn�t so damn delectable�none of this would�ve happened. I wouldn�t be chipped. I wouldn�t be here. I wouldn�t be in love with her. >

Buffy glared back.

< His fault. If he wasn�t so persistent�none of this would�ve happened. He wouldn�t have come back to kill me. I wouldn�t have to talk to him. Spend the rest of my life with him� >

�Howdy pardner.�

�Shut up Spike.�

�Shut up yourself. What is it you say? Let�s�kill.�

�I normally say let�s slay�but that works for me.�

The two blondes assumed fighting stances. Both poised and powerful. Darius stared. His pointed snout leaned closer to inspect these two. They weren�t Dragon Slayers. Just two lesser beings.

Buffy gave an almost imperceptible nod of the head at the same time as Spike. She stopped and tried again. He did the same. Infuriated, she hissed at him.

�What are you doing?�

�Showing you it�s time to go.�

�I was doing that!�

�Who said you got to do it?�

�Me! I�m the Slayer!�

�I�m a Slayer too now, Slayer.�

Darius cocked his head to one side. The two creatures continued to argue. He snorted and a small fireball exploded above their heads. They looked up.

�What?�

�What?�

�Youssss are ssstupid. I willssss eassssily killssssss youssss. Ssssslayers are a teamssss.�

�Sssssss to you too.�

�Hey Sssssspike. Are you ready to kill the ssssstupid dragon now?�

�Ready Sssssslayer.�

Buffy nearly laughed, before she realised that she and Spike had just done something.

< We made up an in-joke. Our first Dragon Slayer in-joke�this is like a big thing� >

She fell to the floor as Darius� tail hit her hard in the side.

Spike flipped over the swinging tail and changed into vamp face. Buffy looked up from the ground.

�Let the games�sssssss�begin.�

*****

Jameson stopped at the end of the tunnel. He had never managed to get past Darius before. He hadn�t tried very hard.

< After Lucille died�there was no point. >

He saw a small flare of fire. It briefly lit up the centre of the cavern, and allowed him to see three things. Spike was standing next to a small blonde girl.

< The other Slayer. >

They had an audience of five other people.

< They must be the Slayer�s friends. >

Spike and the Slayer had started to fight Darius. And they were losing. As he knew they would.

Conclusion of "Written in Charcoal"
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