Chapter 5

(Giles Residence)

Giles listened as Buffy and Kendra explained what they had encountered during their patrols tonight, it sounded rather strange and yet he did not doubt the truth of either account given to him. Someone or something was out there and it was dangerous enough to scare vampires so much that they did not even pay attention when being attacked by the Slayers.

It had to be a demon of some kind he believed, but he had no idea just what kind it could be. There were so many different types that the possibilities were endless. A small part of him considered other possibilities, but these were few and far between. He got up and began to look through some of his books.

"This could take some time unless we can get some clue as to what we are looking for," he told them glancing back. "I suggest you head out again as a group and see what you can find. Maybe questioning a few vampires before you stake them," he instructed. "However do not under any circumstances attack this thing, if you do find it. Report back and we can then construct a plan to bring it down," he ordered firmly.

"Ok Giles," Buffy nodded in agreement, her problems with him put aside for now until they had dealt with this particular puzzle. "We'll do as you say, let's go guys and keep your eyes peeled for anything strange," she told them, as she headed out the door with Kendra hot on her heels.

Willow and Tara quickly followed after saying a quick goodbye to Giles. As they walked away from Giles' house Willow wished Oz was with them tonight, but he was busy with the band and Cordelia had decided to stay in tonight, not that she minded the older girl's absence. Whilst they were friends of a sort, there still remained some slight animosity from the year before and the fluke business.

"Do you think we'll find anything?" Tara inquired, breaking her out of her thoughts.

"I'm not sure, it depends what we might end up facing," Willow responded after thinking it over. "Demons are not easy to predict," she told her fellow witch.

"I suppose not," Tara said, slightly uneasy even though she knew her family's claims that she would become a demon were false, she could not help being uneasy when discussing demons with her friends.

She remembered all to well overhearing the conversation of her father, brother and cousins. They discussed ensuring she remained their servant as they had her mother before them. She had packed a few things, including her mother's spell books and fled. She had eventually turned up in Sunnydale as far away from home as she could get and hopefully she would remain hidden from her family. She was sure they would be searching for her, and if they found her... she shuddered at what they might do to her in revenge for running away.

"Don't worry Tara. I'm sure Buffy and Kendra can handle whatever it is we are looking for," Willow said, mistaking Tara's silence for fear.

"Yeah I am sure they can," Tara responded before focusing on the task at hand.

(Sunnydale)

Across Sunnydale in Westwood cemetery Xander and Katy headed towards the location Willy had given them. Xander hoped Indra would be okay with his new status and would be helpful. Finally they reached the boundary of the wards that protected the enclave. He took a deep breath before entering the caves, with Katy close behind.

He was immediately stopped by two soul eaters on guard duty, one of them demanded to know why he was there and he simply asked to see Indra. He ignored the guards unsure looks, before finally they were pushed along deeper into the caves. He could tell Katy was not comfortable with the situation and so grabbed her hand and tried to keep her calm. Finally they entered a large cave where Indra and her mate Oliver sat talking with a few others of their fellow demons. She quickly took note of his presence and moved to greet him.

"What in the hell happened to you, Hunter?" Indra asked, at once taking note of his red irises and those of his friend.

"We were attacked by a Nosferatu that night we met in L.A, before you and the clan left for Sunnydale," Xander answered. "She turned us, hoping to use me against my friends and take over the Hellmouth. I had to make her think she had broken me and then tonight we overpowered her and we hope you might know of a way we can keep her under our control," he explained the circumstances of their predicament.

"You would do better to kill her," Oliver spoke up, while he still sat where he had been when they entered. "No matter what method you use to control her, she will break free in time," he informed them. "Nosferatu are legendary for their resilience and resistance to magic," he warned.

"He's right Hunter. Your best bet is to remove the threat she poses to you and your friend," Indra agreed. "Whilst I know of a few things that might aide you, it would not be worth the effort, as she will break free and then she will most likely kill you and then come after us for aiding you," she continued. "And not matter our friendship, I do not want to bring the wrath of a Nosferatu down on my clan," she stated with a frown.

"I told you killing her would be the best option," Katy couldn't help but speak up after hearing what the demons had told them.

"Maybe so Katy, but it was still worth checking as I said, just in case we ran into something we needed her knowledge on our kind for," Xander responded with a shake of his head. "Not a lot is known about Nosferatu and there is a reason for it. Our survival and continued hold on who we are may depend on knowing exactly what we are and what we face in the coming years as we grow," he explained.

"You are wise to realize how hard it will be to control the urges you will feel as you grow," Oliver said with a respectful look, before finally standing up and moving to Indra's side. "I once met a Nosferatu who like you tried to hold onto his humanity. However he failed and ended up slaughtering an entire town, before he was put down by another of his kind," he told them. "If the one who killed him still lives then fear falling pray to your new instincts, as he will track you down and kill you," he warned them grimly.

"Did this Nosferatu have a name?" Katy inquired fearfully, not liking the sound of this.

"He is the first of all Nosferatu," Oliver answered with a smile. "His name is Alucard or if you prefer Vlad Tepes," he continued.

"Holy shit," Xander gasped, feeling as if he was hit with a club. "He actually exists?" he asked.

"Yes he does," Indra confirmed. "He hunts dangerous demons and vampires for the Hellsing Organization and has done so for a long time," she informed them. "If he is aware of your creation then he may already be looking for you. I suggest you quickly take care of the one who turned you and then prepare to meet him, for I doubt you will be able to stay under his radar for long," she suggested.

"Thanks for the warning. Let's hope we don't look dangerous to him," Xander responded before turning to leave. "I'll see you around Indra, Oliver," he said with a nod of his head before walking off with Katy and the guards following them.

"Goodbye Hunter. I'm sure we will meet again," Indra replied with a grin, before pulling Oliver back to their chairs. "I wish them luck," she said turning to her mate.

"He is strong willed and so is the girl to have held on to their humanity this long without help," Oliver assured her. "I am sure they will overcome their new nature and if not, then Alucard will track them down and dispose of them before they become a threat," he added with a sad shake of his head.

Indra nodded and then curled up into his side and wondered if Sunnydale would remain a safe haven for their clan, now that Nosferatu were turning up, even given the fact that one was a friend, they were dangerous.

(Sunnydale, Town Limits)

Alucard and Seras appeared out of their bat forms and looked at the town to which they had traced the two new Nosferatu. It seemed quiet enough, but they knew that was deceptive as this was the home of the Hellmouth. Alucard looked across the town and could almost feel the supernatural aura that surrounded it. It was a dark forbidding feeling.

"Be on your guard Seras, as all manors of evil will be loose in this town," he warned his fledgling as he checked his weapons.

"I understand Master, should we split up?" Seras inquired, sweeping back some of her blond hair that got into her eyes.

"No, we stick together," Alucard decided. "Whilst we could cover more ground by splitting up, I do not want to take the chance of us being ambushed by whatever my wayward childe has set up," he explained at the look of curiosity in Seras's eyes at his choice. "And considering what else lurks here, we are best served being a team. We will locate our prey as quickly as we can no matter what," he concluded.

"And if something gets in our way, Master?" Seras asked as she checked her own weapons, knowing they would encounter some dangerous demons as this was the Hellmouth, a home to many dangerous creatures.

"Then we will dispatch them and make them sorry they even tried," Alucard spat in reply. "Let us be off," he added and then led her into the town.

(Sunnydale, Hideout)

Aria awoke groggy and tired, but her eyes spat fire as she recalled the humiliating attack she had undergone at the hands of her fledglings. She cursed as she realized how close she had come to being overcome by them and made into their servant. She snarled and wanted revenge, but she knew she was still weak from the attack and would be no match for them. She had to escape and recover.

Finding herself tied she used what strength she had left to break through the wire and quickly fled out of the house. She swore she would see Alexander and Katy dead, but only after she had made them suffer for their rebellion. Then she would go on to kill the Slayer and her friends and finally take her place as queen of the Hellmouth, just as she vanished into the night Xander and Katy returned.

Entering the hideout they were shocked to find Aria missing. Xander cursed, whilst Katy got a worried look on her face. She almost turned to start an argument before thinking better of it. She understood why he had hesitated to kill Aria and thus let it go. However she knew that hesitation had now allowed their sire to escape, which meant she would come for revenge she was sure.

"What do we do?" she inquired.

"We're going to move to a new hideout and then we are going to plan how to let my friends know what is going on," Xander answered. "We've got to kill her and we will need their help," he added.

"That's not going to be easy, is it?" Katy inquired. "I mean not just killing Aria, but convincing your friends that we are no threat and to help us?" she added with a frown.

"No it won't," Xander agreed. "But we have to do it, we cannot let Aria gain control of the Hellmouth," he told her, his eyes showed the horror of even thinking of that event.

"I agree," a new voice said from behind them causing them both to spin around in shock to find two people standing behind them.

It only took them a few seconds to realize that both of them were Nosferatu, just like them. The young woman was, in Xander's opinion, hot with longish blond hair and a body to die for and eyes that seemed innocent to him. The man however screamed danger in every sense of the word. He was tall with a blood red trench coat and red tinted glasses in front of his eyes.

"Xander, is that who I think it is?" Katy asked, doing her best not to quake in fear.

"I think it is," Xander replied. "You are Alucard?" he asked.

"I am indeed, so you know of me?" Alucard inquired as he looked the two over, inspecting them and taking their measure.

"We were just warned about you from a friend of mine. He said you would kill us if we were dangerous," Xander told him, wanting to back off, but found he could not move.

"Your friend is correct. Had you been a danger I would destroy you as my Master has commanded," Alucard responded. "However it seems you are still in control Alexander Harris," he continued.

"You know who I am then?" Xander couldn't help but ask.

"We in the Hellsing Organization know all about the Slayer and her friends who keep the Hellmouth shut. When I was dispatched after my wayward child after she created you two, I was dismayed to discover one of those turned was you," Alucard stated. "Your efforts are known, even those you have hidden from your friends. I had hoped you would be strong enough to hold onto yourself," he added.

"Barely, we have to make her think she had broken us and we had to feed to grow stronger," Xander admitted grimly, his eyes betraying how much he hated to have done it. "We tried to overcome her will, we should have killed her, but I thought we might need her later on as we grew in power," he explained. "She has escaped and so leaving her a danger due to my mistake," he spat angry at himself.

"We all make mistakes Alexander," Seras spoke up. "You were thinking ahead, it is not easy being a Nosferatu and having someone to guide you is helpful," she informed them. "It is just a shame your sire was evil and had no real interest in you and as for the people you fed on while pretending to be under her command is a terrible crime, but I know you only did what you needed to beat her," she stated. "She was far more powerful than you and you did what you had too to survive and overcome her," she finished.

"I agree, you had no choice if you wanted to beat Aria," Alucard said in agreement. "She is one of my oldest childes still alive. She could kill you both easily and that you managed to put her down in your attack is in all honesty surprising," he admitted. "That your attempts to overcome her will failed and only weakened her shows this. She will be back to avenge herself on you," he warned. "That of course gives us plenty of chances to dispatch her," he said with a grin, which seemed slightly crazed to Xander and Katy.

"We only won thanks to this magical amulet she had that strips people of their power," Xander told them, as he held up the amulet. "We were lucky in the end, I guess," he added with a shake of his head.

"Indeed, now I suggest we leave this place and find somewhere else to set up a base of operations so we can sleep and then plan to deal with Aria," Alucard said before turning and walking out of the house.

Xander and Katy quickly followed as they could tell by the tone of his voice that the suggestion had been an order and they were in no place to argue.

Seras followed keeping an eye out for the renegade Nosferatu just in case she was still close.

(Giles Residence)

Giles looked up as Buffy, Kendra, Willow and Tara finally returned and noted how annoyed they looked. He guessed they had not found anything yet. He waited for them to sit down and get comfortable and then he put down the book he was reading and focused on them.

"Any luck?" he inquired.

"We found nothing Giles, at least we saw nothing," Buffy said tired and wanting to go to bed. "However we did run into a lone vampire and it told us that there was a group of soldiers hunting them, that they were capturing demons and vampires for reasons it would not say," she added.

"Whoever these soldiers are, they clearly have made an impact on the vampires. The question is how?" Willow put in.

"Another question is how did we not know about them before?" Tara said. "I mean you would think we would have seen evidence of them before now," she added, a frown marring her features.

"Good point Tara," Buffy agreed. "How come we didn't know Giles?" she asked her watcher.

"They are clearly staying in the shadows, which makes me uneasy as it gives me the impression they know about us," Giles answered darkly, not liking any of this.

"If they know about us Mr. Giles then why have they not approached us yet?" Kendra inquired somewhat confused.

"I don't know Kendra, but it is possible they are keeping tabs on us to see what kind of threat we are or maybe they are scouting us, before asking us to help them," Giles suggested. "Either way I suggest we all keep a close eye out for them. They could be a great danger," he warned them. "Now I suggest you head home and have a good night's sleep. We'll pick this up tomorrow," he added.

Watching them leave Giles sighed and hoped these soldiers, whoever they were, might actually be potential allies and not a threat as he suspected they might be. He wondered if he should call the council and alert them to this problem. Even if they no longer worked for the council he knew they could still be helpful. In the end he decided to sleep on the matter.