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For the majority of the time he spent at the roller rink, Chase McNamara could hardly take his eyes off Ivory Summers. He watched her skating out on the polished wooden floor from his spot at the edge of the cafteria, riveted by every graceful motion she made. *She's so beautiful,* he thought. *What I wouldn't give to be close to her...*
Finally, Chase forced himself to look away, mentally reminding himself that he shouldn't be thinking such thoughts. The odds were too great that Ivory would never be his, so it wouldn't do to even entertain the idea. "The last thing she probably needs is to have someone like me in her life," he muttered ruefully.
Sighing, Chase leaned back in his seat, crossing his arms over the table and looking around at the cafe's other patrons. After a moment, he shut his eyes, trying to sense if there was a vampire in the premises. Much to his surprise, Chase felt the presence of one loud and clear, and, when he opened his eyes, he found it was sitting not two tables away.
Slowly, Chase stood and walked over, remaining calm so as to not alarm his quarry. He sat down across her, clearing his throat to catch her attention.
She regarded him with contempt and annoyance. "Who invited you to sit down?" she asked. She paused, then added, "You have one minute to leave before my date comes back and pounds your..."
Chase cut her off. "I'm not someone you should order around," he replied, staring deep in her eyes and holding her gaze with his own hynoptic one. "I'm just here to find someone. The newest Vampire Slayer... Who is she?"
The girl answered without hesitation, unable to tear her eyes from his. "I don't know," she answered softly. "If she's in this town, she hasn't made herself known yet. But it won't be long before she embraces her destiny and shows herself..."
Chase smiled deviously, glad that he had found a young vampire with a still weak mind; they were the easiest to gain control over. However, the last thing he wanted was for her to spill the beans to her own kind about him, so the only option was to do her in quickly and quietly. "Stand up," he commanded. "And make it look like you're taking me outside to feed on me."
The girl vampire did as Chase complied, one hand entwined in his as she led him towards the exit. And just before he left the building, Chase cast one last glance towards Ivory, unconciously praying for her safety...
Half a block from home, Hannah rubbed her arms to keep warm. She and Risa had split up for their respective houses some time ago, and Hannah found herself looking forward to a nice hot bubble bath this evening.
With a sigh, Hannah rolled her head across her shoulders, working out the kinks in her neck. Wearing a smile at the thought of the upcoming bath, she reached into her purse for her house keys. However, bent over, she caught the unmistakable sound of footsteps behind her.
Hannah straightened, turning to look behind her, but she could see nothing in the shadows. "Kenyon?" she asked after a moment. "Is that you?"
There was no answer, so Hannah took a step backwards, keeping her eyes focused on the area where she had heard the noise. Her senses on high alert, she began making her way towards her house, her apprehension growing with each step.
She had just reached the porch when she heard the loud growling behind her. Frantic, Hannah fumbled with her keys, her hands shaking as she worked to get the right one in the lock. Despite her panic, she managed to get the door open in a second or two, starting inside. However, something grabbed at the hem of her jacket, holding her back.
Hannah screamed as she was pulled away from the threshold, then let out a cry of pain as something sharp pierced the side of her neck. She fought in her captor's grasp, although she could already feel herself weakening.
Then, suddenly, her parents were there in the doorway, watching in horror for a split-second. Then, her mother stepped forward, holding a crucifix of all things in one hand. "Get off of her!" Hannah's mom shouted, holding the cross up. Hannah stumbled as she was released, but her mother was there to steady her.
Weakly, Hannah looked round at her assailant, a scream caught in her throat as she observed how hideous and monstrous it was. In the next instant, her mother was pulling her inside, sitting her down on the nearby staircase before shutting the door.
Willow and Xander sat across from their daughter, examining the wound. "Hannah, are you alright?" Willow asked in worry. "Do you feel okay?"
"A little dizzy," Hannah replied, her eyes wide with fear. "What was that?!"
Willow sighed. "Nothing you need to worry about as long as you stay indoors for the rest of the night," she said, reaching out to stroke her daughter's hair. She paused, then said, "Come on, honey. I'll take you up to bed." To Xander, she added, "I won't be long."
Willow got Hannah settled into bed within moments, then returned downstairs to her husband, embracing him tightly. "God, I can't take this!" Willow exclaimed. "It was hard enough when they just attacked my friends, but... Xander, we almost lost our daughter tonight."
Xander cupped one hand behind her head. "Still want to wait until Ivory approaches us announcing she's ready?" he asked after a moment. "Even if you do, I don't think I'm willing to wait. Not if it places our kids in danger."
Willow pulled back, nodding in agreement. "You're right," she said slowly. "And I know exactly how to convince her." She paused, then moved to retrieve her keys from the kitchen. "I want you to go with me, Xander. You pick up Jesse, and I'll get Ivory. And, one way or another, this night will end with her accepting her duties..."
It was close to midnight when flight 657 from England arrived at the Sunnydale airport. Slowly, most of them sleepy from the late hour, the passengers began to disembark from the plane. All except one solitary middle-aged woman, who seemed too nervous and keyed-up to be tired.
Jenny Calendar-Giles looked around the terminal in apprehension, hardly believing that she was finally back in the town she had abandoned so many years before. In fact, if not for the e-mail she had received last night revealling Ivory's identity, she would not be here at all.
Heaving her backpack up onto her shoulder, letting out a sigh, Jenny began to make her way towards the baggage claim, wishing more than ever that her husband, Rupert, was here to back her up. But, he wasn't, and he never would be again. The stroke that had taken his life a few weeks back had seen to that.
Looking skyward, Jenny murmured, "I miss you so much. I don't know how I'm going to survive this journey without you. I don't know if I even can, Rupert."
Despite her fears and her melancholy mood, Jenny managed to retrieve her bags and go to rent a car and a hotel room. She had already opted to turn in as soon as she could and place a call to either Willow or Stefanie tomorrow morning. As she was travelling to the hotel, her mind was filled with many concerns or hopes over her decision to return. But one thought outshined them all and almost helped to put her mind at ease.
*It will be good to see what the little girl I helped deliver seventeen years ago has turned out to be,* Jenny thought, and smiled...