CASTLEVANIA: PREDATOR PREY

Chapter II: Trevor Sypha DeNasty

“You know, most self respecting vampires would hide out in crypts or caves or even bloody warehouses,” A blond headed man complained as he made his way through the barely lit basement of the United States Pentagon. “How the bloody hell did we get this far in anyway?”

“Do you ever get tired of saying bloody, Spike? Because it’s actually getting on my nerves,” his companion rolled his eyes as he ran his hand through his greased hair. “And either Mrs. Morris put some kind of disillusionment charm on us or … we’re expected.”

“And why the hell are we listening to him again, Angel?” Spike asked shaking his head.

“Have you forgotten what that Whip can do to us?” he asked with a cocked eyebrow.

“And lets not forget your pretty little slayer is in trouble,” Spike said clamping his hands together over his chest. “Oh how we must go running to her rescue!”

Angel shook his head at the comment and looked at the large tubes with unusual creatures floating. “Everyone thinks Area 51’s in Arizona, they’d never look for it under here.” Angel came to a stop at a large wooden door. “Here we are.”

Angel and Spike pushed it open and were surprised to seem to walk from a metallic lab into a stone castle hall with red with gold trimmed walk way and painted portraits along the walls. “Now, this is more like it,” Spike nodded.

Spike and Angel glanced at the portraits as the continued down the way. First portrait was of a knight armed with neither sword nor shield but a leather whip, and beneath the portrait on a gold plate was the name “Leon Belmont”. Next to it was a portrait of a woman, then more of other men, each armed with the same whip. They continued down the long hall till they came to a large fountain with a statue of four warriors. A knight armed with the same whip as the warriors in the paintings, a sorcerer in loose heavy robes, a dagger wielding pirate and a cloaked vampiric warrior.

“Wow, a statue of four blokes from the sixteen hundreds … never would have thought to find this under the Pentagon…” Spike said with a whistle at the statue.

“Actually they’re from the fourteen hundreds,” a voice spoke directly from behind them. “And the one in the robes is a woman.”

“Really?” Spike said as Angel jumped from the intruder. “Wonder if she was a looker,”

Spike and Angel glanced to the pale man in a three piece Armani suit with long flowing dark hair. “I’m afraid that Trevor would be the one to answer that, and he has long since departed our world, William.”

“I’ve been expecting you two, actually I thought you’d be here sooner … the Pizza’s cold.” The man said turning quickly and walking into a side room with a wall of video monitors of news feeds and satellite video of Sunnydale.

“Young Alexander isn’t the greatest of all Belmont’s. At least he isn’t yet, but he’s on his way,” the man said sitting down at his desk before the video wall and opened the Pizza Hut box. “Supreme cheese crust, no garlic. Microwave’s on the corner table.”

“So are you going to help us?” Angel asked the man who was placing a napkin in his lap.

“Help you? I have been for some time. I only wish there was some way to stop Wilkins from releasing the castle, but nothing we can do about that now,” the man said as he took a bite from his pizza. He sighed as he took another bite. “Ah, Pizza, greatest invention of the ages.”

“But yes, I’ll be returning with you to Castlevania, it is past time for a family reunion.” He said tossing Angel an ancient tome. “This was written by an alchemist from the 11th Century. It took me generations to find it, it not only holds the secrets of Castlevania but I believe could also hold the key to ending the cycle. I just have to finish translating it.”

“I wasn’t going back…” Angel started but was silenced by the man as he lifted a hand.

“LA can wait, Angelus.” the man said taking a bite of pizza. “Cordy, Wesley, and Gunn can more than handle your situations while we deal with a more dangerous threat.”

“Who the hell are you?” Angel blanched. “And how do you know about us?”

“I’ve been watching over you for a while, let’s just say I’m a neutral party that has worked for both sides of your conflict in Los Angelus,” He said biting into the cheesy crust. “But … if you must call me something. You may call me Trevor, Trevor Sypha DeNasty.”

“I can’t just leave LA, I’ve crossed some lines that could have some repercussions …” Angel said with a small smile.

“Ah, yes, Wolfram and Hart, one second on that …” Trevor said pulling out a cell phone.

Meanwhile in LA, in the head office of Wolfram and Hart, Lindsey McDonald set at his desk working on paper work when the phone rang. “Wolfram and Hart, this is Lindsey McDonald speaking, how may I help you?” he said as he answered the phone. “”M-Mr. Tepes, what a … pleasant surprise!” He then reached for a pad and pen. “Of course, sir I can get a message to the Senior Partners … go ahead … take … time off … or else …” Lindsey repeated as he wrote down the message. “Father’s early endeavors will … be made to look … Mickey Mouse cartoon … got it. Heads … on … pike… yes sir, I’ll pass it on.”

Lindsey gulped and hung up the phone before taking the note pad through the office complex.

He quickly entered Holland seated at his desk with Lilah sitting before it discussing something that Lindsey really didn’t care about at the moment. “There a problem, Lindsey?” Holland asked glancing up.

Lindsey handed him the sticky pad note and stepped back to stand beside Lilah and the two watched as Holland’s color faded as he read. A moment later he pulled out a brief case and began gathering his personal belongings.

“What are you doing?” Lilah asked in confusion.

“Cancel all my meetings and appointments for the next twelve months,” he said closing his brief case.

“Where are you going?” Lilah asked watching him quickly making his way to the exit.

“I hear Australia is nice this time of year. Lindsey, Lilah, do pass that memo Mr. Tepes sent on to the Senior Partners for me.” he said before leaving the two in confusion.

Back in Washington, Trevor finished off his pizza and stood up turning off his monitors. “That’s taken care of, shall we return to Sunnydale?”

--

“Nice place you guys …” Faith said as she followed Xander and Dawn into the living room of the cabin.

She saw Xander’s new friends and G sitting around on the couches and chairs. “The infamous Faith, I presume,” said another stranger who reminded Faith a bit of a British Harrison Ford.

“Charlotte, before we begin a conversation, would you do the honors …” He said motioning to the attractive woman.

“Hey, Dawn, Why don’t you go and fix us all something to drink,” Xander said placing an arm around the girl and leading her toward the kitchen.

“This is something that is highly unethical, but concidering the world we’re in today we have no other option,” Charlotte said as she stepped up to Faith and to her displeasure didn’t stop till their bodies met.

“What are you …” She cut off when she locked eyes with the older woman and found herself paralyzed. “What are you doing?” She said as she felt her head begin to tingle and itch as if a headache was beginning. “No …” she whispered as flashes of memories began going through her mind. “Don’t go there! I don’t want … I don’t want to remember … Stop… STOP!”

Faith began to visibly tremble as her memories and mind itself was violated. It didn’t take but moments before all she could do was release a constant scream as tears streamed down her cheeks from her wide, paralyzed eyes.

Charlotte stepped away after fifteen minutes of torture before both women fell to her knees, Charlotte pulling the trembling girl into a tight hug, one arm around her shoulders, while the other held Faith’s cheek to her chest. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered into Faith’s hair as she held her.

“It over?” Xander asked peaking in before helping Dawn carry in mugs of coffee and hot chocolate.

Faith shook her head, still shaky but still pulled away from the woman. “What the hell was that?”

“Had to make sure there wasn’t any hidden commands or bugs,” the unknown man said walking up and helping Charlotte off the floor. “My name’s Jon, Jonathan Morris, this lovely young lady’s husband, and former wielder of the Vampire Killer.”

“Vampire Killer?” Faith asked trying to focus on anything beside the memories once again fresh in her mind.

“The Holy Whip of the Belmont Clan,” Giles exclaimed as Charlotte and Jonathan helped Faith to the couch. “The greatest of all Vampire Hunter families.”

“I gotta still be out … this is just a bad dream …” She shook her head.

“Perhaps its best we let her rest for the night before we explain what’s happened,” Charlotte suggested her arm still protectively around the girl’s shoulder. “Is the guest bedroom in order?”

“Yes it is and that sounds like a good idea. Shall we continue this in the morning then?” Giles agreed.

Faith shook her head, “Yea, sleep … sleep would be good …” She said in a daze as Charlotte led her out of the room.

Xander watched her go before standing up and taking his whip. “Where are you going?” Dawn asked, blinking.

“Out for a while,” Xander winked before kissing her on the forehead. “Be back before breakfast.”

--

“Xander, we’re going to be alright,” Buffy rolled her eyes as she loaded a bag of stakes and weapons. “It’s not like I’ve not slayed a vampire before.”

“I’m just saying, Buff, I have a bad feeling about this one…” Xander said glancing out the window as the towering Castle in the center of town.

“I’m not going in alone, Willow and Oz are going to be right there with me, so stop being paranoid,” She smiled and patted his shoulder.

“Can’t you at least give me time to learn how to use this thing?” Xander asked as he placed his hand on the whip wrapped on his belt. “Jonathan says this is the only thing that can hurt him.”

“All the more reason for me to go and keep the drama queen in Cinderella’s Castle from Hell busy.” Buffy smiled. “If we see we can’t kill it, we’ll at least give him a big enough ouchie that he’ll be down long enough for you to learn how to use that.”

“Buffy,” Xander said with a sigh.

“You’re the big hunter now too, so if it goes south I’ll be counting on you to whip me out of there,” She said with a smirk.

“Can you be serious for just a second? This isn’t just another vampire, or even a Lord Vampire, that is Count Freakin’ Dracula up there,” Xander said reaching out and grabbing the Slayer by the shoulders. “It’s not your job to kill him. Jonathan said it. Giles said it. You know it. So forget this stupid plan.”

“It’s not stupid, Willow even made a diagram,” Buffy said with a pout.

“Buffy, I’m just asking you to give me some time to practice so I can back you up,” Xander pressed.

“Alright, you win …” Buffy sighed lowering her gaze.

“You just … wait what?” Xander blinked in surprise.

“I haven’t been much of a friend to you, and I’m sorry for that, Xander,” Buffy said moving in and kissing him on the cheek. “You’re a great friend, Xander, best of the best … top of the line … you know I love you right?” she asked the shocked teen.

Before Xander could respond Buffy chopped him in the neck causing his vision to go white and he lost strength in his limbs. He vaguely felt pressure on his lips before he gave into unconsciousness.

“Stupid Buffy …” Xander whispered as he entered the graveyard on the edge of Sunnydale.

He saw a large group of Vampires gathered and didn’t hesitate a moment as he let his newly refined instincts take charge. He drew the Vampire Killer and struck out burning a vampire on contact before moving in to punch and kick into the group.

“Just like you to rush in without thinking,” a feminine voice spoke up as she leapt to his back and began fighting with him.

“Can I trust you to watch my back?” Xander asked as he swung his whip out killing a pair of vampires on contact.

“Do you really have a choice right now?” she asked with a giggle before she round-house-kicked a vampire and followed with a stake to the heart.

“Good point,” Xander nodded before drawing his boomerang cross and sent it flying, decapitating four of the large group. With the two fighting together it didn’t take but moments for the vampires to all become nothing but ash on the ground.

Xander turned to his temporary ally and gave a small awkward smile. “Hey Will.”

“Hi, Xander,” Willow returned his smile.

To Be Continued …