OF SONGS AND STAKES

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

A/N:To others who also have a slayer story I am not trying to copy you, this just popped into my head and begged me to write it.

A/N2: This is loosely based around Buffy The Vampire Slayer, I may change some things around a bit to fit my story, the same with Glee. Some things from BTVS did happen to lead up to this story and I have cut out other parts and/or changed them, sorry to the die hard BTVS fans. To GLEE fans, some things will follow the show and others will be my imagination, sorry but there are some things I had to change for this story. This is set in 2011 Glee Club has not been formed

CHAPTER ONE: I MUST BE DREAMING

My legs burn as my heart tries to pump blood to them, the gaping wound in my side making it hard as more and more blood pools out of my body leaving a trail for it to follow me. A rock seems to jump out of nowhere as the darkness creeps around me. Struggling to breath, the air in my body is knocked out of me as something throws me into an old stone building I don't recognize. The stone crumbles beneath me and I jump up only slightly slowed down by the wound in my side, black goo dripping out of it mixing with my crimson blood. Something comes at me and I dodge it performing a perfect backflip before kicking the person in the head. Its silhouette is massive, but I don't back down as I continue to hit it. Something tackles me from behind and I am pinned to the ground. Another massive person whose body and face remain hidden in the shadows pins me by my neck. My hands wrap around the leg and twist as hard as they can, a crack fills the silence as it's leg breaks. I place my hands behind my head rolling my shoulders back and pushing of the ground. My body moves backwards into a somersault like flip before I land on my feet. Exhaustion causes me to miss the next being that tackles me. The two in front of me make no movement as they check the leg I had broken. My face is forced to face my attacker as it grips my throat, air tries to move past my throat but it doesn't work, coming out in a wheezing sound as the massive twin of the hand gripping my throat brings an axe to my head before arching its arm back and bringing it down.

I wake up screaming gripping my throat in terror as I throw the sweat soaked blankets off of me pulling my shirt up checking my side. My fingers run over the skin searching for any abnormality. The dream seemed so real like it was happening right now or as if it were a memory. I shake my head at the audacity of it before I climb out of bed. I wait for the sound of feet on the floor, meant to come running to my aid, but none came. My frazzled brain quickly reminds me that my room was soundproof. My body was buzzing with energy and I couldn't seem to shake it. I change into a pair of long basketball shorts and pulled on a long sleeve shirt. Even though there was snow out and it was past December, I felt like I was on fire.

I pace my room for five minutes, my body still on a high as I grab my cell phone and put it in my shorts pocket. I pull out a can of mace and wrap the wrist guard around my wrist. The small can dangles from its position on my wrist bumping against the palm of my hand. I debate on whether or not to grab my dad's pocket knife or just leave the house with a can of mace. I leave a note on my bed telling my fathers where I am going before I quietly make my way down the stairs. It was almost two in the morning and I knew no one would be awake at this time. I shut my automatic porch light off before locking my front door, hooking my keys around the wrist with the mace. I grip the mace can in case anyone would decide to sneak up on me and try something. Disappearances and murders had plagued Lima for the last two years.

I make sure to stay on the sidewalk as I begin to run, trying to burn off the excess energy brought on by the nightmare. It was the third one this week, each of them different yet ending in my death after chasing or being chased by something. The night air seemed to calm my nerves down before I feel like something is following me. Attributing it to my recent nightmares I continue running. The feeling increases as I begin to pass a flickering light. I speed up slightly, wanting to pass it as fast as possible. Something hard tackles me into the shadow between two house. Taken back to my dreams, I fight it off. I hit it in the groin once I notice the lack of chest features, before I punch it in the nose. Then spray it with the pepper spray, silently thanking my fathers for self-defense classes. It lets out a scream clawing at its eyes as it rolls off of me.

I get onto my feet as fast as I can, one hand claws at its eyes the other reaches out for me. Its hand rips into my leg and I kick its hand away with my other foot. Running as fast as I can between the dark alleys of the houses, the sidewalk being blocked by the man who attacked me. I make the mistake and turn around to see if he was following me. He was, but before his hand could grab me he is tackled to the side. I stare in shock as the woman shakes short blonde hair out of her eyes.

Coach Sylvester tosses me a wooden stick with a pointy end. "Strienstand I hope to god you're the slayer because there is a vampire behind you and its about to take a bite out of you." I turn in shock as I see a handsome man with deep brown hair turn into a monster, his face morphs and I almost scream as he looks to Coach Sylvester then me before he lunges at me. The only thing that saved me was years of dancing. I side step him and move to get behind him. e intercepts and hits me in the ribs, I roll across the ground until I land near a large stick. As he lunges once again at me, I pick up the stick and swing it as hard as I can. It breaks across his head, the wood splintering and pieces flying everywhere. He grips his head as his forehead splits open and he shake it as blood begins to pour out of it. Before he can get his bearings I stake him in the heart. I jump in shock as his body explodes into dust. What the?

Coach lets out a relieved smile before her face becomes stern again. "Get up, i'll explain everything as I walk you to your house." I look at her in shock before following her.

"Wha-wh. How? Why.." She looks at me annoyed and the dam bursts. "What the hell just happened?!" Normally I refrained from cursing but this was confusing and I had no idea what the heck was going on.

"You just slayed a vampire. You're a slayer, a being meant to fight supernatural creatures." She looks as if its no big deal.

"Slayer? Supernatural creature? This is not possible. This can't be happening. I'm dreaming, it's just another one of my nightmares." Sue looks curious.

"You've been having dreams?" I just nod. "Let me guess, you chasing something or maybe being chased and somehow you die." I open my mouth to question her on how she knows but she continues speaking. "They're slayer dreams. Most show you past slayers slaying monsters. Sometimes, like in your case, you relive their death. A new slayers power is awakened when the last one dies, but that hasn't been true for a while."

"This can not be possible." I shook my head then pinched my arm, this has got to be another nightmare. "I can't believe this. Wait did you say? Someone died for me this to happen who died and why?"

She looked contemplative. "I don't think anyone died, the slayer line was broken about fifty years ago by a slayer. She awakened all the potentials for a huge battle and we haven't had an original slayer until now. All potentials were suppose to be full slayers but something went wrong and only the potentials that were sixteen or older were summoned. There was a reason why you were picked. We have waited for a original slayer, not just a potential. There were thousands of potentials turned slayer fifty years ago, but they all have to be in their fifties, maybe sixties and seventies now and some are even dead. Most of them couldn't possibly fight. There hasn't been a single slayer until now. The council has been on the lookout for slayers now that evil beings started to trickle into Earth's realm about fifteen maybe sixteen years ago." She looked over at me as we continued to walk to my house.

"That. That is a lot of information." She couldn't make this up on the fly. I just killed a man and he burst into dust. She's telling the truth as crazy as it sounds. "Who're the council?"

"They used to be arrogant pricks who thought they could control the slayer and use her as a weapon, but that changed fifty years ago. They are now national. They helped train the potentials, but there were no more potentials coming forward when they died or reached old age, so the council ran out of potentials to train. The council is still around. They have people who take care of evil now instead of slayers. They provided information for the slayers and helped them stop evil, now that you're a slayer they should help you in anyway they can. First you get a watcher to train and guide you. Then you kill the evil that resides here."

It all processes through my brain. Coach know everything about this, she saved me and told me to kill the vampire and is now explaining watcher to me. "You're my watcher, aren't you?"

I didn't know whether to feel scared or excited that she was my watcher, but the next words crushed my thoughts. "No, I am not your watcher. I am a witch, I was assigned here when they realized a dormant hellhole was residing in Lima. They also put your watcher here, we have been waiting sixteen years give or take to have a slayer since they found the hell hole and creatures began coming back to Earth." I stared at her in shock. "It started out as strange killings around the world, and different mercenary groups handled it. Then two years ago Lima became a beacon for evil. You're here to protect Lima."

I took that all in. "If you're a witch who is my watcher? And why not send any of the mercenary groups here?"

She looked at me. "Some groups did come, they contained it as best they could until they were called away on a bigger mission. There are only a few of them to go around the entire world. And your watcher will meet you tomorrow." She had a smirk on her face as if when I found out it would be hilarious as she left me at my front door.

January 4th, 2011 6:55 a.m.

Somehow I managed to go to sleep and as I woke up that morning for school I thought it was a dream, that was until I pulled my blankets off and saw my dirty clothing and the four scratches on my leg that were gouges last night. How did I not even register the pain when I was walking home? How are they almost healed now? I ran my fingers over the marks, they were still raised, as if they were almost completely healed. As if they were a week old not a night.

I shake my head and strip my bed of the dirty sheets and blankets. I throw them in the hamper by my door before I rush to my bathroom to shower the night, well this morning away. I quickly scrub my body and wash my hair. Speeding up my normally long shower to a short seven minutes before I hop out of the shower, wrapping my towel around my body. Picking up my dirty clothing with the tips of my fingers I toss them into the hamper with my dirty bedding. I close my door before I grab the clothes I want to wear. I look through my clothes before I grab a small black skirt and pull it on over my underwear. I put on my bra before running to the bathroom to do my hair and brush my teeth. After blow drying it I let it fall where it was, my morning to hectic to care about my hair. I pulled on a white blouse before pulling on a navy blue sweater. Slipping long white socks on that cover my scratches on my legs before pulling on my black flats.

I run down the stairs, rushing into the kitchen, wanting to get to school early and find Coach Sylvester. I grab a bagel and a bottled of water as I rush out the door. I don't bother yelling a goodbye to my fathers, knowing that they both are gone for work. Daddy to the hospital and dad to the local law firm. Happy that I have my drivers license now, my Birthday having passed weeks ago on December 18. It is now January 4, and it is a Tuesday, the first day back to school after Christmas and New Years Break.

I drive, nervously tapping my fingers against the steering wheel, my eyes on the road. I pull into the school parking lot and grab my bag, quickly hurrying through the halls, the longer I am in the halls the more chance I have of being slushied. The cheerios and football players love to slushy me and some of the other teenagers. Sometimes they are in band or Av club, mostly its me and most of the mathletes. For some reason they single me out. I haven't mention this to my fathers, because I believe that the people in this small town are so homophobic that the fear me and my fathers.

I walk straight to Coach Sylvester's office and can hear her voice. It has a steel edge to it, so very different than who she was last night. "n't listen! Stephanie now has a broken wrist because of your insolence. I told you to watch the freshmen and what do you do? You go to the JV Squad! You're on bottom for the week, I don't care what you have to say Lopez. Pierce was on Varsity, Fabray on Junior Varsity and you on Freshmen. Get out of my office."

Santana Lopez, one of my many tormentors storms out of Coach's office, a scowl etched onto her face. She rams her shoulder into mine and I barely feel it. I only moved when I realized that should have knocked me back farther. "Out of my way Treasure Trail!"

I blink and watch as the students in the hall scramble against the walls and lockers to get out of her way. I turn around and knock on the door. 'Come in' Is directed at me and I walk in. "What are you doing here Miss. Berry?"

Her voice isn't as steely as it was but it wasn't as carefree as it was last night. "You told me I would meet my watcher today?" Instead of a statement it came out like a question.

She sighs and motions to her door, the lock clicks into place without her touching it. Her hands rub down her face. "Yeah, I did. Let me call her and I can run down there with you." Sue call someone on the phone and mutter meeting and now please. After a pause she said two. Not understanding what those four word accomplished I watched in confusion. She hangs up the phone and stands up. Her tall frame easily shadows mine as she walks past me, unlocking the door and motioning me to go. I walk out first then she locks the door and walks down the hall. I follow her. We come up to a unmarked classroom and Sue walks in, I follow her and she sits down at the desk.

Her wrist flicks again and the door is locked. I hear a shuffling in the cabinet and Miss Pillsbury pokes her head out before looking me up and down. Her eyes seem to be taking in everything about me. "Your small, most won't be afraid of you." She turns to Sue and asks one word. "Soundproof?" Sue nods and rolls her eyes like Miss Pillsbury was stupid for asking that question. "Okay your a tiny slayer, so we'll have to work on you abilities. You've got the legs of a dancer, so you'll be fast out there. We need to work on your upper body strength, I went through you file. You took self-defense, yes?" I nod confused. "Good Sue and I can work with that."

"What the heck is going on?" I look at Miss Pillsbury in confusion. Sue gaffs with laughter. I look at her confused.

Sue's grin spreads across his face. "Rachel Berry meet your watcher." I stare at Miss Pillsbury in shock.

"Bu-but. What?" Miss Pillsbury was known for her Obsessive Compulsion Disorder. I did not expect her to be my watcher.

Miss Pillsbury smiles at me. "I expected that reaction. Anyway they assigned me here because of my attention to detail."

"So what does being a watcher entail?" She motions for me to sit down and I do.

She sits down diagonally from me and smile. "I am to prepare you to fight demonic forces. I was one of the top student in my class and they assigned me here to keep an eye on the hellhole which is showing signs of opening up. I will explain everything later, you have class right now. Meet me at this address after school."

I thank them and take the address and type it into my phone while stuffing the paper in my bag.

The school day was like most before it, long and boring. I was an almost outcast, I had a few acquaintances but thats all they were. Being a jewish girl with two fathers was offsetting in a small town.

I walked to my car and follow the address. They never said what time to be there. The address was in the middle of town, literally. The towns edge and city limits were the same length around. Guess it made for a better starting point if you were in the middle of town. There are small shops nearby, an old book store that I am sure sells classics. A magic shop where Sue surely shopped at and a small coffee shop, most likely unknown to the high school population. Lima was not small by any means, but where I went to school, was fairly small, full of bigot homophobic people.

I went to open the door but it wouldn't budge. I groan in annoyance as I slid down the door, texting my fathers and telling them I was at a bookstore. It wasn't a complete lie, they probably wouldn't be home though. Both of them had very demanding jobs and worked hard to give me everything I needed. They weren't bad parents. Just distracted.

I pull out my homework and get to work on it. Humming and singing a song as I quickly and efficiently did my work. 'Heres the thing we started out friends it was cool but it was all pretend.' My voice drops as I concentrate on a math problem. I was three weeks ahead of everyone else, but my daddies always told me to be one step ahead of everyone else. I didn't need to be ahead but it helped. Now with this slayer thing I could do it without worrying about homework, only tests and papers in English. More words floated from my lips. 'Yeah yeah, since you been gone. Dedicated took your time wasn't long before I called you mine.' I stop after I hear feet shuffle, Miss Pillsbury looks at me in amusement. "It was on the radio as I was driving over here." She nods and opens the door.

Her hands grips my wrist as she pulls me in. I look at her in question. "Sue put magical wards all over this place. You can only get in if the recognize you and your trinket or if someone it recognizes, like me, holds onto the person's wrist." She shows me a bracelet that seemed to be molded to her wrist. "I'll get her to make you one and i'll give you a key to this place."

I look around as she mention the building. It was about two stories high, but one half of the building didn't have a second floor. It was open, the second floor overlooking the space. "What is this place?"

"This is a training building for slayers, my father was a watcher before me and he bought it. It's under my name as storage building though. You will train here and research here. The Watcher Council has come a long way in the last fifty years. Some girls complained over the years about reading taking to long." She walks over to a door and opens it. "So they made an impenetrable database to identify creatures. This is the research center." She shuts the door and leads me to another one, opening it and it is completely padded with mats, even the walls. Punching bags were placed in the corner. "This is the training room. We'll work on making you a better slayer in here, also on weapons." She motions for me and I follow, we move up the stairs. The second floor looks like and apartment would if it didn't have walls. There are two king sized beds one hidden on each side of the kitchen, offering some privacy, set up about three feet higher than the original floor is the 'kitchen', steps leading up it. Normal kitchen appliances and a table adorn the 'room'. She motions to the only walls in here. "Thats the bathroom, there's only one of them, but there is a bathtub, and a shower along with toilet and a sink. First aid kits are in every room." I nod taking this all in with wide eyes. "I know this is a lot to take in, but your training must start immediately."

She looks expectant and I nod my head. "Yeah, whatever it takes. I usually put a hundred and twenty percent into anything I do. This is no different, except I have to kill evil creatures."

She smiles, picking lint off her shirt in a habit. "I know you do, and that is one of the reasons you are slayer. It doesn't just choose anyone. You were meant to be a slayer. Lets get to work, Sue will be here soon to help you." I nod and follow her down the stairs.

"How can I pretend that I don't see
What you hide so carelessly?
I saw her bleed
You heard me breathe
And I froze inside myself
And turned away
I must be dreaming

We all live
We all die
That does not begin to justify you

It's not what it seems
Not what you think
No, I must be dreaming
It's only in my mind
Not in real life
No, I must be dreaming"

Evanescence 'Bleed(I must be Dreaming)'