Leah The Vampire Slayer

Chapter Five: The Harvest Part One

"Ugh!" I felt his fangs get closer and closer to my neck. I did everything I could to throw him off of me, but he was just to HEAVY! "NO! Get off you ugly, ugh!" Then suddenly he jumped back from my throat as if he had been shocked. He let out a growl, I used his momentary shock to push him off of me. I ran out of the crib as fast as I could, trying to find Willow, Xander, and Jesse. I heard Willow scream, "No! No! Get off!"

"Hey, cheapo why don't you pick on someone your own size?" He looked up at me, big mistake. I kicked him in the face, hard enough to break a human's neck. He took off running before I could do anything else. I took off running in a different direction, making sure I heard Willow's footsteps follow mine.

I hid behind a gravestone as Willow yelled, "Xander!" to grab the vampires attention. I leaped from behind the gravestone kicking them both before they could charge at Willow. I ripped a limb from the closet tree, getting in potion ready to use it as a stake. I came right at the vamp he was to surprised to do anything but let me stake him. I came up behind Willow and Xander, looking out for any thing that could pose as a threat. "Where's Jesse?" "I don't know, they surrounded us," Willow announced, sounding panicked. "That girl grabbed him and took off," Xander explained. "Which way?" I inquired quickly. "I don't know." The wind blew my hair out of my face as I whispered the person's name I had failed to save, "Jesse."

~End Scene~

The next afternoon Giles started his explanation to Willow and Xander, "This world is older than any of you, contrary to popular mythology, it did not began as a paradise. For untold eons, demons walked the Earth. They made it their home, their, uh, their, personal hell. Then in time, they lost their purchase on this reality, and the way was made for mortal animals, for man. All that remains of the old ones are vestiges, certain magicks, certain creatures."

"And vampires," I injected, holding ice to my arm.

"Ok, this is where I have a problem, because we're talking about vampires. We're having a talk with vampires in it." Xander said, sounding annoyed and a little bit frightened.

"Isn't that what we saw last night?"

"No, No, those weren't were just people in need of a really bad facial or maybe they had rabies. It could have been rabies, a-and that guy turning to dust? Well, that was just my exhaustion from the week taking its toll. That's what I said the first time I saw a vampire, after the screaming part, and pulling to stake out of the wrong side of their chest."

"Oh, I-I need to sit down."

"You're sitting down, Will."

"Oh, good for me." I shot her a sympathetic look.

"So vampires are demons?" Xander questioned.

"The books tell that the last demon to leave this reality fed off a human, mixed their blood. He was a human form possessed, infected by the demon's soul." Giles handed Xander the book. "He bit another and another. So the walk the Earth. Feeding, killing some, mixing their blood with others to make more of their kind. Waiting for the animals to die out, and for the old ones to return."

~End Scene~

"And that would be what?"Xander exclaimed.

"For as long as there have been vampires, there's been the slayer, one girl in all the world, a chosen one."

"He just adores doing this part," I said dryly.

"All right, the slayer hunts vampires, Leah is the slayer. Don't tell anyone, I think that is all the vampire information that you need."

"Except for one thing: How do you kill them?" Xander asked again.

"You can't. I do."

"Well, Jesse is my-"

"Jesse is my responsibility. I let the blond take him."

"That's not true," Xander assured me.

"If you hadn't shown up, they would have taken us, too. Does anybody mind if I pass out?" Willow added.

"Breathe," I said quickly, placing my hand on her shoulder.

"Breathe," she repeated.

"So this big guy Luke, he talked about an offering to the Master. I don't know what or who, but if they weren't just feeding, than Jesse might still be alive. I'm going to save him."

"Uh, this may be the dumb question, but shouldn't we call the police?" I fought to say something rude towards Willow, I offered her a meek smile instead, "And they'd believe us, of course," Giles remarked, saving me from having to say anything.

"Well, we don't have to say could just say that there's a bad man." I smiled at Willow's naivety. "They couldn't handle it even if they did show up. They'd only bring guns," I told her.

"You have no idea where they took Jesse?" Giles asked.

"Zilch, I tried to look around, but as soon as they got clear of the graveyard, they could have just...vroom!" I answered.

"They can fly?"Xander asked.

"They know how to drive," I chuckled.

"Oh," he sounded oddly disappointed.

"I don't remember hearing a car," Willow told us.

"Let's take an enormous intuitive leap, shall we, and say they went underground."

"Vamps really rely on sewer systems they can get anywhere in the entire town watching catching any rays, but I didn't see any access around there."

"Well, there's an electrical tunnel that runs under the whole town."

"If we have a diagnostic of the tunnel system, it might indicate a meeting place. I suppose we could go to the building commission."

"As if we have time for that," I said wearily.

"Uh, guys there may be another way," Willow said.

~End Scene~

"There's the stupid thing."

"That runs under the graveyard," Willow told us.

"I don't see any access," Xander pitched in.

"So all the city planes are just open to the public?"

"Um, well, in a way. I sort of stumbled onto them when I accidentally decrypted the city council's security system," Willow said meekly.

"Someone's been naughty," Xander teased.

"There's nothing there," I growled.

"I think you're being a bit hard on yourself," Giles told me.

"You're the person who told me that I wasn't ready. Understatement! I thought I was on top of everything, and then that monster Luke came out of nowhere-" I stopped as I remembered, he didn't come out of nowhere. He came up behind me.

"What?" Xander asked me.

"He didn't come out of nowhere. He came from behind me. I was facing the entrance, he came from behind me, and he didn't follow me out. The access to the tunnels is in mausoleum! The dumb blond must have doubled back with Jesse after I got out! I'm so freaking retarded!"

"So what's the plan? We saddle up, right?"

"Wrong, I'm the Slayer and you're... you're not." I said.

"I knew you'd throw that back in my face."

"Yeah, well deal with it, this is deeply dangerous!"

"I'm inadequate. That's fine. I'm less than man."

"You're not inadequate. You're 100% human."

"Leah, I'm not eager to go into a dark place full of monsters, but I do want to help. I need to."

"Well, then, help me. I've been researching this Harvest seems to be some sort preordained massacre, rives of blood, hell on charmless.I'm a bit fuzzy however, on the way be that you can wrest some information from that dreaded machine." My eyes widened in shock, what? "That was a bit, um. British wasn't it?"

"Just a tiny bit. Say hello to the new word, glad to see you made it."

"I want you to go on the Net."

"Oh, sure. I can do that."

"I'm out. If Jesse is alive, he'll be back." I didn't say anything about me.

"Do I have to tell you to be careful?" I whirled around, smiling at him sadly. I turned back around and walked out of the library. I knew I couldn't leave to campus during the day. I was almost out of the gate when I heard Mr. Flutie say, "And were do we think we're going?"

I rolled my eyes, putting a charming smile on my face. "It's my lunch hour, and I was in the library. I offered to help , because I know how hard it is to be new, he asked me to go pick up some volumes from the library down the street. I'm sorry, but he didn't give me a note, but you can go ask if you like."

"What?"

"He asked to pick up a special book for him. Did my transcript mention I'm a bookworm," At least the last part wasn't a lie.

"What?" He repeated.

"You can ask him," I reassured.

"Well, maybe that is how they do things in 've got that royal family and all kinds of problems, but here at Sunnydale, nobody leaves campus while school's in session. Are we clear?"

"Crystal, I'm really sorry, but that is how they did things at my old school, also." I smiled at him innocently.

"That's the Leah Clearwater I want in school. Sensible girl with her feet on the ground." He stalked away. I jumped over the fence with ease, using my slayer skills to disappear from sight, smirking the whole way. "Feet on the ground, thanks for the idea."

~End Scene~

I cautiously slipped into the mausoleum. I felt another presence behind me, I didn't pay any attention it because I really didn't want to have to stake any more vampires than necessary. I was just about to enter the tunnels when I heard the person's footsteps behind me, they sounded familiar... "I wouldn't be one hundred percent surprised if you have a key on you," I slowly turned, a smirk dancing on my lips.

"They really don't like me dropping in."

"How come?"

"They really don't like me."

"I just couldn't imagine why," I laughed, smiling for what felt like the first time in ages. He rolled his eyes, "I knew you'd figure out this entryway sooner or later. Actually I thought it was going to be a little sooner." His smirk saying payback was a bitch."I'm oh so sorry you had wait," I mocked him. I sighed, "Alright if you are gonna be popping up with this cryptic wise man act, at least tell me your name," and so I can look you up in the Watcher's Diaries. Hmm, maybe that should be a TV show, ya know like the Vampire Dairies. I wad broken out of my musings by the mysterious man, "Angel."

"Cute name," I winked at him. I spun around to the lock, trying to figure out the best way to break it.

"Uh, don't go down there."

"Live with my going."

"You shouldn't be putting yourself at risk. Tonight, is the Harvest. Unless you can prevent it... the Master walks."

"Since this Harvest thing is such downer, why don't you stop it?" I gazed up at him, he chuckled with dark amusement, a small smile stretching across face. He has such a pretty smile, I thought.

"Cause I'm afraid." I spun around, bringing my heel down on the lock expertly. It hit the ground with a hollow clang. "They'll be expecting you." I took a tiny step away from the door. Towards Angel.

"I let someone get taken, they're down there now. Even if there's a chance he's still alive, I have take it. I have save him, Angel. Do you know what its like to have friend?" I wanted away from my vulnerability. He looked at me with those sad, pretty eyes. I felt a tugging inside, like all I needed were for his eyes to be happy and bright. I let an apologetic look slip on my face.

"That was supposed to be an obvious yes." He gazed at me with those sad eyes.

"When you hit the tunnels, head east towards the school. That's where you're likely to find them." I let a smirk slip on my face. "Gonna wish me luck?" I asked playfully. He let his own smirk on his face. I felt my breath catch in my throat. I gazed in his eyes for a little longer before turning around. I stepped into the tunnels carefully. I took a few more steps disappearing in the tunnel, but I still heard it. The smallest of whisperers, "Good luck."

~End Scene~

I carefully descended the steps. My hand floating across the rusted bar. I carefully slipped down the stairs, not making a noise. I continued to follow Angel's directions when I heard footsteps behind me. I spun around. "Xander, what are you doing here?" I hissed. "Something stupid, I followed you." "Stupid? I wish, it's more like suicidal!" "I couldn't just sit at home and do nothing!" I sighed, even though I didn't want him and Willow in this life I understood he wanted to help save his friend. "I understand," I told him. "Now GO AWAY!" I snarled. "No," he snapped back. "Xander, you're gonna have to!" "Look, Jesse's my bud, ok? If I can help out, that's what I got to do." I glared at him, "Alright, just stay out of my way." I motioned for him to follow me. "Besides, It's this or chem class," I shot him a look of disbelief, he did not just say that!

~End Scene~

"Ok, so... crosses... garlic... stake through the heart." I nodded. "Sounds simple, huh?"

"Cool. Of course, I don't actually have any of those things." I rolled my eyes and handed him a spare cross. "Nice job," I stated sarcastically. "Well, the part of my brain that would tell me to bring is still busy telling me not to come down here. I have this, though." To my horror he pulled out a flashlight. "Turn it off!" I hissed. "Ok, ok." I struggled not to glare at him through the darkness. "So, what else?"

"What else what?"

"For vampire slayage?"

"Fire, beheading, sunlight, holy water, the typical stuff you see on T.V."

"You've done some beheading in your time?"

"Yup, I was pinned down by the quaterback from the opposing team. Well, he was before he became a, ya know, a vampire. Anyways, he had a extremely thick neck. All I had was a small pocket knife I used when I went fishing with my dad-" Xander laughed nervously. "You're not enjoying this story, huh?"

"No, actually, I find it oddly comforting." I looked at him, almost checking to see if he was sane.

~End Scene~

"They're nearby," I said softly. "How can you tell?" Xander inquired. "There isn't any rats." We continued to walk quitely. We heard a noise coming from the right. Jesse lied there, he couldn't be... "Jesse!" Xander exclaimed. "Well, hell!" I quickly followed Xander. He sprung up, a pipe in his hand. "Jesse!" "Xander?" Xander pulled him into a hug. "Jesse, man. Are you okay?" Jesse replied sounding frantic, "I am not okay on a epic scale. We've got to get out of here." Xander and I both looked down at the shackle on his foot. Something wasn't right. Why would they leave him here with only a simple shackle? Angel had told me that they would be expecting me. "It's cool. Leah's a superhero." Rolling my eyes I bent down, "One second..." I broke the shackle as easy as 1, 2, 3. "You think anyone heard that?" Xander worried. A shadow flashed across the wall. We all took off sprinting through the dark.

~End Scene~

"They knew you were going to come," Jesse stated. "They said that I... I was the bait." Then why a simple shackle? "Oh, great. Now you tell us," I had to smile at Xander's sarcastic remark. We continued to trot down the dark path. I just turned the corner when I heard an animalistic growling sound. "Crap," I muttered. "Oh, no! No, no, no!" Jesse freaked out. "Is there any other way out?" I snapped at him. "Umm, I don't know. Maybe, come on." He took off running and we had no choice to follow him. "Wait! Wait! They brought me through here. There should be a way up... I hope." He took a left and we were off running again. Coming to a boiler like room, I realized we where stuck. I looked around, starting to panic, "For some reason I don't think this is the way out!" I snarked off. "We can't fight out way back through those things!" Xander exclaimed. "What do we do?" he questioned. I was about to tell him to ask the guy who lead us here when Jesse spoke up, "I got an idea." Xander and I turned and looked at him. He was vampire, full on game face. Damn it! I knew they were plannig somthing! I should've went faster! "You can die," he said this simply as if he were telling us to go eat ice cream. My eyes widened and I took a deep breathe. Well, hell.

~End Scene~

"Jesse, man... I'm so sorry," Xander said remorsefully. " 'Sorry?" Jesse scoffed. "I feel good, Xander. I feel strong. I'm connected, man, to everything. I- I can hear the worms in the Earth." I started to pull the huge, metal door closed, already thinking up a plan of what to do with Jesse. "That's a plus," Xander said breathlessly. "I know what the Master wants," my ears perked up at this. "I'll serve his purpose. That means you die.. and I feed," he smirked. "Xander, use the freaking cross!" He quickly raised his hand, and Jesse flinched back, growling. "Jesse, man, we're buds. Don't you remember?" Oh, he remembers, I wanted to say, but he doesn't care. "You're like a shadow to me now." "Then got out of my face," Xander said cooly. He grabbed Xander's arm (the one holding the cross) and threw him against the wall. When he turned the feed, he forgot about little ole' me. I wiped out his legs from under him and threw him to the oncoming vampires. I started to push on the door, but it wasn't doing any good the thing was stuck! I grunted, "help me!" Xander got up and started to push on the rusted door. With his leverage and my strength, the old door finally started to close.

Just as it closed a vampire was able to reach his arm through. His claws almost scratching me in the face, I let out a little sheirk. I snapped at his hand with me teeth, and he pulled back his hand from the door. Feeling it finally shutting, I leaned against it. Making sure to lock it. "We need to get out of here," I said. "There is no out of here," Xander replied. I could feel them banging against the door, trying to get in. Xander started to flash his actually useful flash light, "Up there!" He pointed to a vent that would be our ticket out here. I started to tug and pull on it, trying to get it to come loose. Xander left the door, shining the light better on the vent. As soon as he did the beating on the metal became louder. To my horror, a pale hand shot up over the top of the door.

I finally pried the vent open. Xander was almost half way through when a head appeared above the doorway. When he was finally through I quickly started to lift myself up. I heard them come through just as I pulled myself through the vent. Following Xander, we crawled furiously, the vampires right behind us. Finally, Xander found a ladder that lead up into the light. He carefully pulled himself through, turning around to help pull up. Hurry, hurry! I urged in my mind. I was just about out, when my worst fear happened. A vampire managed to get a hold of my leg. I tried to struggle, but I didn't have any ground. "Xander, pull! You have to pull!" I flailed my leg around, trying to get the vampire to let go of me. Xander was able to pull me a few more inches. The demon's hand was pulled into the sulight. I started to kick my leg around even more. He finally gave up, and he let go of my ankle. Falling back on the pavement, if was safe to say that Xander and I were relieved.

~End Scene~