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Part 1
The way in which she woke on a school day had become a sort of tradition for Ivory Summers. She constantly had her alarm set for six o'clock. Everytime it went off, she would wake instantly and hit the snooze button, then moan into her pillow, "I don't want to go to school." But she would always get up to prepare anyway.
However, today was destined to be different. She followed her normal routine as per usual, only she suspected later that she had brought her hand down with a little too much force this time.
Ivory opened her eyes with a start, staring at the smashed, broken clock in disbelief. "Oh, man," she groaned, sitting up and stretching. "Ivory, you are such a klutz," she muttered to herself.
Standing, she unplugged the clock, examining it for the extent of the damage. Fortunately, it wasn't completely done for; she could repair it within two hours after school. She had taken electronics for her sophomore year at Sunnydale High and was pretty much a wiz at such things.
Ivory got dressed quickly, in a purple mini-skirt and matching cotton tanktop. On any other day, she would have gone down to breakfast where her adoptive mother and foster sister would be waiting immediately. But today, something stopped her.
As if in a trance, Ivory turned to look at the framed 8x10 photo mounted on one wall, of her real mother. She walked to it, laying one hand on the protective glass. And, without warning, without even realizing it, Ivory began to cry.
The petite blonde in the picture was still young and beautiful, not much older than Ivory was now. They looked much the same, she and this woman who was her mother, the only differences being that Ivory's hair was jet black, her skin tone slightly darker. But otherwise, they were enough alike in appearance to be twins.
Sadly, Ivory's mother had died in a fire when she was barely two years old. Ivory had no recollection of her, nor of the father who had split town sometime after the tragedy. All she knew of her parents, she learned from her current guardian, and even that wasn't much. She didn't know her father's name or what he looked like; there wasn't even a single photo of him to be found. Yet, for some reason, she had refrained from asking anyone about him.
Just then, Ivory heard her foster sister's voice floating up from downstairs, calling her down to breakfast. Startled, Ivory let her green eyes dart around the room, until they finally came to rest on the watch on her dresser. She was surprised to find that half an hour had passed since she had finished dressing.
Throwing one more glance at her mother's picture, snatching up the watch, Ivory whispered, "I wish I could have known you." Seconds later, she was on her way down to the combination kitchen\dining room. Her adoptive mother and sister already sat at the table feasting on some delicious-looking pancakes. Ivory quickly poured herself a glass of milk and went to join them.
To Ivory's right sat Risa Marks, the girl she had grown up with, her best friend, and her confidant. Risa was pretty in her own right, with straight ash blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes. Her father, too, was absent, due to lack of caring about her or her mother. But it didn't bother Risa all that much; it took a whole lot to bring her down.
Although they were nearly two years apart in age (Ivory being the older at seventeen), the girls were as close as could be. Even though Ivory and Risa weren't truly sisters, they might as well have been. They had doted on each other almost from the day they were both able to speak.
Part of the reason they got along so well was their differences as well as their similarities, for it balanced them out pretty well. Where Ivory was outspoken, Risa was somewhat shy. Where Risa was a bookworm, Ivory relied on any sort of strenuous exercise. And neither girl would hesitate to help the other if the need arose.
Risa's mother, Stefanie, was pretty remarkable as well, for she had survived a lot growing up. According to Stefanie, she had moved to Sunnydale to live with her uncle when she was in her late teens, having lost her entire family in some tragedy or other. She met Risa's father during her last year of high school and conveniently got pregnant by him, barely flinching when he rejected her afterwards. Months later, Stefanie had given birth while trapped in the basement of a dance club with a friend, following the massive earthquake that had taken the life of Ivory's mom.
Seated across from Ivory, Stefanie gave the young girl a warm smile. "Did you sleep well, sweetheart?" she asked in a pleasant slightly musical tone.
Ivory smiled back, giving a contented little sigh. "I feel like I could take on the world," she replied, with no idea how prophetic her words were. A week from now, looking back, she would be glad she had been in the dark about Sunnydale's past: events, people, and creatures alike...
Even though Ivory had a license and could have easily driven herself and her friends to school, she preferred to walk everyday. And thankfully, none of the other three ever argued this point. In fact, it had pretty much become a routine for her, Risa, and their two other pals.
As per usual, Jesse and Hannah Harris were there waiting for the two "sisters" at the corner of Wilshire and Rubello, three blocks from the school. As they waited for the light to change, already engaged in idle chatter, Ivory took a moment to adjust her sunglasses, annoyed with how bright the California days were.
This gesture wasn't lost on Jesse, who wasted no time raising an argument. "What is it about the sunlight that bothers you so much?" he asked Ivory. "There hasn't been a single morning since we've been in high school that you've ever gone without those stupid glasses."
Ivory threw him an irritated glance, although the effect was lost since her eyes were hidden behind the dark frames. "My eyes are sensitive, okay?" she said. "We've been over this several times... Never gonna change."
Jesse shook his head, barely noticing as Risa began to tease his dark brown hair. Just then, the light changed, and the foursome moved to cross. "Well, in my opinion, it still sucks," he replied. "It's not fair that you should have to miss out on a perfectly sunny day because of some inherited condition."
Ivory sighed, admitting that he did have a point. It was common knowledge among the four of them that her father had been a serious nightowl who rarely, if ever, saw the light of day. And, in an odd sort of way, it affected her as well.
Despite Jesse's knack for being insensitive at times, Ivory cared very much about him, as well as for his younger sister, Hannah. The two of them, coincidentally, were also descendants of some of her mother's friends. Jesse had been born on the same day as Risa, only a few hours after her. Both of them got quite a kick out of it, often joking that they must be soulmates. It wasn't something either of them took seriously though; Jesse and Risa's relationship was purely platonic.
Hannah, at fourteen, was a year younger than her brother. She was quite the looker, with bright red hair, sparkling hazel eyes, and a lean frame. And she was a big bundle of energy, never happy unless there was something to keep her active during her waking hours. To Hannah, Ivory had a very protective nature; she would do anything for the young girl.
Ivory looked up at Sunnydale High as she and her friends began to approach, admiring the decor that had taken a few months to be rebuilt after the last earthquake had destroyed most of it. With a sigh, she and her friends began their final approach towards it, and Ivory found herself wishing that today would be good. If they could just get inside without a run-in with the school bully, Kenyon, that would be a great start.
However, luck wasn't on their side. Ivory stopped and let out a groan when she caught sight of the tall, tough-looking basketball jock leaning against the railing at the top of the staircase. But he hadn't yet noticed her or her three friends though. "Come on," she said to Risa, Jesse, and Hannah. "Let's find another way in." They agreed without question, and Ivory began to lead the trio away, hoping they would go unnoticed. They should have been so fortunate.
"Hey, Summers!" Ivory heard Kenyon call out from behind her. "Wait up, girlfriend!"
Ivory increased her pace, but he caught up anyway, laying one hand on her shoulder. "Leaving without giving me a kiss?" Kenyon asked. "Is that what you're trying to do?"
Ivory turned on him angrily. "Get it through your thick skull, Kenyon!" she said through clenched teeth. "We are not an item and we never will be!"
He held up his hands in mock surrender, a smug look on his face that she wanted desperately to wipe off. "Why do you keep fighting it, Ivory?" he said. "You know you want me. There's only so long you can keep those desires suppressed."
Ivory sneered. "Just leave me alone," she snapped, turning to walk away. However, Kenyon fell into step behind her, wrapping one arm around her and unintentionally brushing her breast with one hand. But it was enough to set her off.
With an animal-like snarl, Ivory moved to elbow Kenyon in the chest, only hard enough to make him step away, she thought. So it surprised her to hear him groan loudly; turning, she was startled to see him crumple to the ground, arms wrapped around his ribcage and face contorted in pain.
For a few moments, all Ivory could do was stare in shock, either wondering if he was faking or fearing this sudden new-found strength she possessed. In the next instant, Jesse and Risa were hauling her away, saying something about how Principal Snyder was heading in their direction.
Ivory was in a daze all the way to her and Risa's first class of the day. She sat down slowly in an empty seat, deep in thought. Sitting next to her, Risa asked if she was alright.
Ivory snapped out of her trance, shaking her head a moment. "I shouldn't have hit him like that."
Risa sighed. "If you're worried he's going to rat you out to Snyder, don't. Kenyon would be too embarrassed to admit a girl knocked the wind out of him... Besides, he deserved it! Maybe now, he'll think twice before hitting on you."
Ivory half smiled, thinking that there was at least one benefit. But it bothered her immensely that she had all of a sudden acquired super powers. She thought of her clock this morning and how she had intended to hit Kenyon only hard enough to get him off her. How could she suddenly not know the extent of her own strength? But, much as she desired an answer, none would be forthcoming. At least, not until that afternoon...
Stefanie Marks worked as a dance instructor in the local shopping center of Sunnydale. She taught all forms of dance (tango, ballroom, waltz), but her style of choice was ballet. Once upon a time, at the beginning of her long life, she had even wanted to be a ballet dancer. But that dream was long past.
Stefanie was just finishing up with her ten o'clock class when she got a surprise visitor. She and Willow Harris had never been that close, even though their children had become good friends. But, she soon found, events were already apt to change.
Stefanie dismissed her students quickly, locking the glass door and drawing the shade after they left. Once that was done, she turned to a teary-eyed Willow. "What's happened?" she asked. "They're back, aren't they? Sunnydale's becoming infested again?" she added without letting Willow answer.
Willow shook her head, retrieving a folded-up piece of paper from her purse and handing it to the other woman. "If not, they will be soon, Steffi. I really do... This is an e-mail I received from the current... I mean, the former Watcher in Paris. The most recent Slayer is dead, and the next has already been called."
Stefanie froze, suddenly not wanting to hear what Willow had to say. She had known this day was coming ever since Ivory's father had left the girl in her care, but she still wasn't yet prepared. Suddenly overwhelmed, Stefanie had to hold on to a chair to keep from falling. "No!" she moaned. "Not Ivory! Not now!"
Willow was surprised, staring at Stefanie with wide eyes. "You knew already?" she asked slowly. "But how? I mean, I didn't have any idea until I got this message and confirmed it through my books..."
Stefanie cut her off, pacing the room a moment before looking out the window. "Angel told me a long time ago," she replied, a sob in her voice. "He found out from one vampiress who's dead now, he said. Didn't bother to tell anyone, not even Buffy, until he left Ivory for me to raise." Stefanie sighed, biting her lip. "At least Buffy will be spared having to fret over this... It's the rest of us who have to suffer."
Willow paused, looking downward a moment. "The reason I was told this is... Steffi, they've appointed me to be Ivory's Watcher. We're going to have to tell her, start her training tonight. A lot is at stake."
Stefanie nodded, her expression grave and pensive. "I know," she said softly, leaning her head on one hand. "You don't need my permission, Willow. I know better than anyone that a Slayer is given no choice but to accept her role."
Willow gave a slight nod. "That's why I want you there for Ivory's training sessions... You've been there, Steffi, and you're the one Slayer on record ever who's survived the longest. You could be a great help!"
Stefanie remained silent a moment. "Some survival it was. I had to stay seventeen, at least in appearance, for nearly four decades," she said, recalling her years as a vampire. If it hadn't been for Buffy, Stefanie wouldn't have become human again; Risa would never have been born, let alone conceived. "But that's beside the point... I'll do anything to help Ivory. I owe her, as well as her mother, that."
Willow took a step forward, laying one comforting hand on Stefanie's shoulder. "And I suspect the two of us won't be alone in protecting Ivory for long. This Watcher in Paris... He's said that he's sent word to Giles, and he's sending Cordelia our way. Apparently, she was in France assisting him and... and Lacey, so..."
Stefanie let out a breath. "And Angel?"
Willow sighed. "Nobody knows his location," she replied. "Wherever he is, he's made sure to lay low. All we can do is pray he gets wind of this and comes back."
Stefanie turned to look at Willow. "He'll be back," she said certainly. "I'm sure of it... Angel wouldn't be able to stay away once the news reaches him. I give him two to three months."
Willow hugged Stefanie tightly. "I hope you're right," she whispered...