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Disclaimer: Willow, Angel, Cordelia, Xander, and Jenny belong to Joss. All other characters are mine.
Author's Notes: This story is written as if Angel's turning evil and Jenny's death never happened. In other words, an alternate future for the BTVS gang. Just something to keep in mind as you read it. And now, on with the show...
Prologue
It rained the day of Lacey Connelly's funeral, perfect weather for the burial of one of the twenty-first century's greatest Vampire Slayers. You could feel the sadness in the small group of French citizens, as well as from the lone brunette hidden in the shadows some distance from the grave site. It was that powerful.
The service was performed rather quickly, and it wasn't long before the crowd began to break up, most of them going back to their respective cars. Only one man, tall and handsome and scholarly, stayed for a while as Lacey's final resting place began to be filled.
His name was Pierre Cartier, and he had been the personal mentor, or rather Watcher, to young Lacey. He had known, trained, and guarded her for nearly three and a half years. Her death, the result of one moment when she had let her guard down, had hit him hard. But now, it was time to hand the reins over to the next Slayer, who had yet to be informed of her destiny.
Finally, Pierre turned away from the gravesite. Only instead of departing, he ventured over towards where the solitary brunette stood, meeting her with a sad smile. "Thanks for coming, Cordelia," he whispered in perfect English, with a hint of a French accent.
She looked up at this Watcher she had come to know and respect, her brown eyes full of pain. There was nothing about Cordelia at this moment that hinted at the fact that she was a vampire. However, she was a rarity among her race, one of the two or three in existence who abstained from killing humans. All one had to do was to look past her vampire visage (yellow-tinted predatory eyes, sharp fangs, hard ridges lining her face) to see the kind, soulful human side beneath.
Other than that, Pierre knew little about Cordelia, only that she came from Sunnydale, California and that she had once been friends with the late, great Slayer, Buffy Summers. Nevertheless, Cordelia had been a great help to Lacey during her reign, often popping up to clue the Slayer in on happenings in the vampire world. And, once in a while, Cordelia would even fight side by side with Lacey. But no more.
Cordelia bit her lip, stray tears running down her face. "I'm sorry I couldn't save her for you, Pierre," she said softly. "Sorry I got there too late, when she had already been killed... God, I've seen at least four Slayers die since... since Buffy... You think I'd be used to it by now."
Pierre watched her shake her pretty head in silence, thinking to himself that the worst news was yet to come. With a sigh, he got straight to the point. "I know you're hurting, Cordelia, but I must ask this of you," he said seriously. "Do you plan to seek out the next Slayer, aid her in her battles?"
Cordelia nodded slowly. "Somebody has to," she replied, gathering that he already knew where the next girl could be found. "Where am I off to this time? Italy? Russia? Peru?"
She could have gone on and on had Pierre not held up a hand to silence her. "I'm afraid the location of the new Slayer hits more close to home," he said solemnly. "She resides in Sunnydale." He sighed, anticipating Cordelia's reaction to this news. "And she's been identified as one Ivory Summers."
Cordelia froze, not believing her ears. "Buffy's daughter," she whispered in shock. "Oh, no!" Looking up at Pierre, she added, "It can't be. There's got to be some mistake!"
Pierre shook his head. "There's no mistake. It's been confirmed... According to my volumes, Ivory's fate had been planned from the moment of her birth... It's written that she'll be the best Slayer ever to be encountered, even more so than her mother was. Vampires all over the world will soon know of this and will double their efforts to wipe her out. They'll fear her more than any other."
Pierre sighed, feeling weary at telling Cordelia all this. "There's a chance that Ivory may be the last Vampire Slayer the world will ever need, but she needs to be guarded at all times. I've already sent word to her appointed Watcher, Willow Harris, that it's time to tell Ivory of her destiny. And, in the next few days, I will see to it that Buffy's former teacher is also notified..."
Cordelia half turned away, slightly saddened by this news. "What about Ivory's father? He'll want to know of this... Do you know his location?"
Pierre shook his head. "He disappeared a few months after Buffy's memorial service, as you well know. He could be anywhere by now, and neither of us have the time or the resources to seek him out... In the meantime, it's up to you to travel to Sunnydale, act as Ivory's guardian. She'll need all the help she can get."
Cordelia nodded in understanding. "I'll leave tonight," she assured him. "It shouldn't take too long to pack all my belongings into my private yacht and set a course for Sunnydale," she added, half jokingly. In the years since she had become immortal, Cordelia had procured a great deal of wealth, but had little material possessions to show for it. "God, has it really been only fifteen years since I left?" She shook her head. "I never imagined I'd be going back home this soon, if at all..."
Pierre took a step forward, kissing her gently on the back of her hand. "You'll be fine, Cordelia," he whispered. "I wish you well in your journey. And, after today, I shall sorely miss you." He paused, taking a few steps away from her. "I must go now... Don't fail Ivory. Do what you must to keep her safe."
Cordelia watched his retreat from the cemetary, falling back into the crypt in which she stood when the sun began to peek through the dark clouds. "I will see to it, Pierre," she murmured. "One way or another, I will keep her alive. I won't fail her as I did her mother..." And, deep inside, Cordelia knew with all that was that it was a promise she would most definitely keep...