Title: A New Slayer 6/9
Author: Jadedragon
Disclaimer: Not mine, Buffy and company belong to Joss, Mutant
Enemy and the WB and UPN. Can I keep Giles, please?
How had he let things get so out of hand? He watched the Malock demon as he walked near the Hellmouth. He had only wanted to cause a bit of trouble for the Watcher and Slayer, not unleash a demon horde.
"Sorcerer, in three nights you will open the Door to Hell and free the rest of my brethren. I will gather the other items needed."
Before the demon left, he checked the cursed restraints on the Sorcerer to assure himself that he couldn't get away.
The restrained sorcerer thought he could control the Malock demon when it had approached him for his help in opening the Hellmouth. He also thought it would be a good way to repay the Slayer and her Watcher for the trouble they had caused him over the years. He never intended to release Malocks, that was just too horrific, even for him, but if he didn't the demon would kill him and he liked himself too much for that.
**********
Nikki watched the others as they reentered the Summers' home. She felt like she was a part of a family for the first time since the Council had taken her in. She noticed an ancient Oriental man she hadn't seen before and wondered if this could be Grandfather, but before she could ask, Buffy approached Giles.
"Giles, Wesley just called. He's found something and needs you and Grandfather back as soon as possible. He also asked that the rest of us come too," Buffy informed him before he could enter the living room.
"Buffy, I have some things to do here we can follow you later," her mother told them.
"Ok. Buffy could you and Nikki follow us? I really need to drop off my rental car on the way."
"Sure, no problem. Come on, Nikki," she called as she led the younger Slayer to her car to follow Giles and Grandfather.
"Rupert, will she be alright?" Joyce asked before he could leave.
"Nikki or Buffy?"
"Both…Nikki?"
"Joyce, she has been through so much, but I think she is starting to adjust. It will take time, but I think she is beginning to see just how different her life can be here as opposed to the Council's living facilities. I really have to go. But we'll talk later about Nikki and Buffy," he said as he followed Grandfather out the door.
**********
Wesley again reread the passage in the ancient text that Doyle had brought to his attention less than an hour previously. The passage was contained in a tome written in Medieval French during the 12th Century, which recounted the same story that had been found in the Mandarin manuscript. The difference was that this version was told from the Sorcerer's point of view. The passage that Doyle had found cast a totally different light on the spell to be cast and he was glad that Rupert, Grandfather, Buffy, Nikki and the rest of them were on their way. Wesley continued researching with Doyle, after he had sent Angel to check on the Hellmouth, keeping Spike for protection in case what he feared came to pass.
"Where's Joyce?" Wesley demanded when they entered the Mansion.
"Mom stayed to get a couple of things done and will be here later," Buffy told him.
"Doyle, Spike get over there!" Wesley ordered, but they were already on their way to the door, Spike grabbing his blanket for protection.
"What's happening?" Buffy demanded.
"Buffy, we found another reference to the spell the Malock will use to open the Hellmouth. First he will need a sorcerer to cast the spell. Of the other items needed, only two are rare, the Sphere of Summoning and the blood of the ancestor of the Slayer."
Buffy and Nikki both looked at Giles in puzzlement. "Does that mean my ancestors? And if so, my grandparents are dead," Buffy stated.
"Buffy, I think it means a closer ancestor," Grandfather started.
"You mean Mom?" Buffy started for the door.
"Doyle and Spike are on their way to your house now…" Wesley started, but then followed her and the rest of the group.
Giles just managed to jump into Buffy's car before she sped off toward her home. Wesley, Grandfather and Nikki got into Wesley's to follow.
**********
"Willow, I want you and Tara to help me plan a surprise Bridal Shower for Buffy," Joyce began when Buffy and Giles had left the house with Nikki and Grandfather.
Before Willow could say anything there was a crash in the kitchen. The three women looked at each other as they moved toward the closet where Buffy had her mother keep some weapons just in case of an attack, but before they reached it, the Malock demon came rushing from the dining room toward the three woman.
Willow quickly began casting a spell, but the demon knocked her into the wall, knocking the witch out. Tara began a spell but was also knocked aside into the opposite wall. Then the demon approached Joyce throwing a powder in her face, which caused her to instantly pass out. He then threw the Slayer's mother over his shoulder and left as he had come.
**********
Doyle and Spike rushed into the Summers' home and, seeing the two witches knocked out, went to them immediately and tried to wake them. Slowly, Willow started coming too just as Buffy burst into the house.
"Mom! Mom where are you?" she cried as Giles came up behind her.
"Buffy, the demon was here!" Willow moaned as she held her head in her hands.
Wesley, Grandfather and Nikki quickly searched the house, but Joyce was not there. By the time they got back to the living room, Willow and Tara were both sitting on the couch.
"We heard something in the kitchen, but before we could get to the weapons, he came in and knocked me out, throwing me against the wall before I was able to cast any sort of protection spell.
"He knocked me against the other wall," Tara informed the Slayer.
Buffy went to the kitchen and was followed by Giles and Wesley. Grandfather followed, but halted in the doorway.
"Magick has been used here, strange magick," he informed those present.
"Yes, Wen, I feel it too," Giles confirmed.
"Do you know where it came from?" Buffy asked.
"From the demon, undoubtedly, but I thought Malocks had no magick," Giles continued.
"Most don't, but there are a few who were reported to have some magickal abilities," Wesley informed them. "Not strong enough to cast the spell to open the Hellmouth, but strong enough to teleport short distances. I found a bit more information on them while we were researching."
"Then the demon has my Mom?" Buffy asked, anger in her eyes.
"So it appears," Wesley stated.
"What have you found out about these demons?" the Slayer demanded.
"It's easier to show you. Lets go back to the mansion. Angel is due back. I sent him to the Hellmouth to see if there was any activity there."
Thought she hated to wait, Buffy agreed and again they headed to the Mansion; this time everyone was accounted for and going with them.
**********
Angel cautiously approached the Hellmouth through the tunnels that he and Xander had traversed many years before. As he approached, he saw bodies that had been torn apart and fed upon, a sure sign that the Malock demon was making his lair somewhere in the area. He sensed something near him and followed his sense of smell, which lead him to a man, who was bound with magick and unconscious. This must be the sorcerer that the Malock was planning on using. He picked up the man and threw him over his shoulder, quickly leaving the area before the demon could return.
**********
"Buffy what I have found describes different duties of the Malocks in the clan grouping. One of the demons was usually what I would call a mystic leader for want of a better term. This role was usually one that was handed down from father to daughter or mother to son, depending on who had the power. It was rare for such power to be found in demons so it was in bred when it was found."
"Are you saying that…"
"Yes, Buffy, a parent would breed with their demon offspring to strengthen the power."
"That's disgusting!" Xander exclaimed.
"Actually that's quite common among demons," Anya explained, her remarks drawing strange looks from the group.
"Well, anyway it seems that this Malock is one of the mystic leaders with some magickal powers, but we only know about his ability to teleport. There could be other powers more dangerous."
"But how can we determine which ones he has?" Nikki asked.
"Nikki, that I don't know."
"Well, how do we kill it?" Buffy asked.
"Malocks can be killed just like any other demons, beheading being the most common method for Malocks," Wesley informed her.
As they continued discussing the Malock demon, Angel came in from the basement, carrying a man over his shoulders. The group looked at him as he approached.
"I think I found the Sorcerer that the demon was going to use to open the Hellmouth," he said as he dumped the man on the sofa.
Buffy looked at the man who was dressed in rags with his hair long and scraggly, looking as if he had been captive for a long time. Something about him was vaguely familiar, but it was Giles who recognized him.
"Ethan, Ethan Rayne?"