London, England 1551
Beckett Estate
.....Charles smiled broadly as he marched through the corridors of the estate on his way to the main reception hall where he knew that he would find his parents dining. That was absolutely perfect, as he had some interesting yet somewhat disturbing news for them. Indeed, it was sad that once he told them all about Alasha and her recent liaisons it would result in their lunch becoming ruined. However, as the oldest son it was his responsibility to save the family's good name, not to mention get some satisfaction watching his sister fall from grace. Alasha had no such honor and his older sister and her relationship with Gordon would jeopardize everything and as such he was going to see to it that Alasha's little fantasy world came crashing down all around her.
.....Now, he was still missing a lot of the facts but from his little venture into Gordon's home as well as the pieces of the puzzle he had glimpsed while spying on Alasha, he pretty well had the full picture figured out. With a little extra intellectual reasoning he was able to fill in the blanks to create the final pieces of the picture. It was rather bleak that his sister was behaving like a common street wench around this older man who was obviously no more than a mere commoner. Just the thought of Gordon touching his sister made his skin crawl, not so much due to the age difference as most men in their thirties married younger women. However, the fact that he was a commoner was what disturbed Charles the most and it was the reason he had to take things into his own hands before Alasha's horrid secret become common gossip. He didn't really care about her reputation, but rather he feared his own as it would bad on him if he had a trumpet for a sister.
.....As he walked in to the main reception hall he noticed that his parents were caught up in some minor debate as they argued between their sips of soup. He hated to intrude, but he had to and once he stabbed Alasha in the back he could hope that his father would be so grateful for his good work as to impart some more responsibility onto his back. He was 14 years old, practically a man he thought and very soon he would be 15 years old, a man for sure.
....."Charles, you look like you are anxious about something. What is troubling you?" Charles thanked his spurt of good luck, as it would be easier to tell them about Alasha since it was his mother who breached the subject first.
....."Mother, Father, I have some news that I have to tell you about Alasha and what has been going on around here, especially while you were both away," he replied feeling the anticipation of Alasha's fall.
....."News about Alasha, what has the girl done," demanded Edward who had no patience for Alasha ever since the spectacle with Sir Crommel. He had no idea what had happened that night other than the fact that it resulted in yet another suitor not taking Alasha away. If he did not see her married soon, she would end up being too old and a shame upon the family.
....."I really feel bad for telling on her but I believe the family honor is at stake and as such I do not have any choice. I truly love her as she is my sister but my loyalties run first to our family," Charles said as he noted from the look in his parent's eyes that he was winning them over.
....."It's okay Charles, just tell us what you feel we need to know and we will decide for ourselves if it is as important as you seem to be portraying it to be," said Camille in a very kind and gentle voice.
....."Okay, Alasha has been leaving the estate a lot lately to meet up with a commoner named Gordon Haley. The two of them have even been engaging in forbidden acts of love," said Charles as he heard his mother gasp and he noticed that his father was turning red in reflection of intense anger. "They have even left together for days on end while you were both away. Silvae would try to cover for her disappearance but she did not fool me," he said as he expected his father to explode in anger at any moment. He would have hated to be Alasha at that moment.
....."Is that everything Charles," Edward asked through clenched teeth?
....."No, when she took off on one of these trips I broke into Gordon's house hoping to find her there and bring her back. They were not there, but he had parchments lying around that were inscribed with writings that the Church would no doubt burn him as a heretic for. I think he may be crazy and has set his sights on Alasha, he may even plan to sacrifice her."
....."Very well, go get your sister and that servant of hers, I want to see them both immediately," Edward hollered as he hit his fist down on the table hard enough to spill his soup. Charles spun around and hurried off to do as his father wished.
....."Edward, I can't believe it, not Alasha as she was always such a good girl," said Camille with sound of tears on her voice.
....."Well, I am going to get to the bottom of this Camille. In the meantime I will dispatch a garrison of my personal guards to deal with this Gordon Haley and I will inform the Sheriff of his actions though I know the Sheriff and he will let me handle this as I see fit," stated Edward seething in anger.
....."What about Silvae? She is a good girl and I can't believe she would betray the family like that."
....."Silvae's days as a personal servant in this household are over. She will be sorry for her part in this and I think for starters she will feel the sting of my whip and then I will see from there just what I plan to do with her if I decide to spare her life that is," grumbled Edward.
....."What about Alasha?"
....."I don't know what I will do with that girl. She has disgraced us and if she were not our daughter I would have her killed. However, I think I will lock her in her chamber only letting her out for suitors until we can marry her off as quickly as possible so that she can do no more harm to our family name," said Edward thinking about whipping her as well as her servant.
.....Camille looks up as she hears noises from down the corridor and soon the sources of the noise become obvious as Charles emerges dragging Silvae along roughly as though she were a criminal. She looks at the girl and feels pity knowing what is about to happen to the girl. She had actually liked Silvae and the fact that she conspired with Alasha against the household hurt her too. She didn't want to see the girl get whipped, but she was not going to cry about it as a part of her wanted to see the girl punished for allowing her daughter to stray.
.....Edward looked briefly at Silvae and then asked, "Where is Alasha?"
....."I'm here father," said Alasha as she entered the room from a different direction taking in her brother'' mean treatment of Silvae and holding back the urge to slug him for it. "What is going on here? Father why is Charles holding Silvae as if she were a common criminal?"
....."You need not worry about her, her fate is already sealed. However, I think it is time for you to tell us a few things before I decide if I am going to kill that servant girl of yours," said Edward trying to get Alasha off balance so he could did at the truth even quicker. "Charles leave her and send in some of my guards. Tell them where this Gordon lives and have a team dispatched to deal with him."
....."What-Gordon-what do you have against him?"
....."Alasha, we know everything. Charles has told us about your indiscretions with that commoner and how you let the situation get out of control. Well now I am retaking control. There is a family protocol that you have broken and you will pay the price Alasha."
....."Protocol, well Charles is a lying sack of chicken dung and he wouldn't know an indiscretion if it reached out and snapped him one in the snout," replied Alasha.
....."I didn't need to see that in my mind's eye," said Silvae to herself as she visualized Alasha's analogy.
....."Take the servant out into the courtyard, I'll join you in a few minutes to deal with her," said Gordon to the two guardsmen as they entered the room. They nodded in agreement and escorted Silvae out of the room while Alasha simply shook her head in disgust at the thought of what her father planned to do to her friend.
....."Father, listen to me. Charles has everything wrong and he has no clue as to what has been happening around here. Silvae has done nothing wrong and neither have I for that matter,' said Alasha trying to gain control of the situation.
....."So you didn't leave with this Gordon?"
....."Well yes, we did go to Scotland, but-,"
....."There is not buts here Alasha. I do not want to hear anything more from you. Charles is my son and he would not lie to me. A son can know true honor unlike a daughter who is about to relearn the meaning of quite a few words such as protocol, duty and honor," replied Edward not giving Alasha a chance to talk. "Now, take her to her chambers where she will stay until further notice,' he said to two more guardsmen who entered the room.
....."But father-," she tried to say.
....."There is no more room for talk honey," replied Camille. "Just do as you are told and be assured that if Charles is wrong, we will know soon enough when Gordon is brought in."
....."She will need a new servant," said Edward as Alasha was led away. "See to it that she gets one," he added as he walked out towards the courtyard.
....."We have a new girl, I think her name is Anya. I think she will do," replied Camille to her husbands retreating back.
London, England 1551
Alasha's Chambers
.....Alasha paced back and forth trying to think of a way to undo the damage that Charles had done. If she merely disliked her brother before, she had certainly reached a new level as she had begun to hate him with his current stunt. Charles had no idea what he had done, the trouble he had caused. The slayer couldn't be locked away in her room while the World could be ending or vampires could be partying on some innocents. She had to be free and it was the damn family protocol that was her noose. Alasha pulled herself free from her thoughts as her bedroom door opened and a new servant girl walked in.
....."Hi, I'm Anya," said the girl with a warm smile. "I am your new personal servant."
....."Hi, but I don't need a new personal servant. Silvae will be coming back once I straighten out this mess with my parents," replied Alasha as she thought about strangling the truth out of her brother.
....."Well if she is the girl your father is whipping in the courtyard, she may not be back for a while even if you straighten out the situation," replied Anya with compassion soaked words.
....."I could kill him," Alasha whispered more to herself but Anya smiled knowing that she was going to provide Alasha with the opportunity to get revenge on her brother. Normally she offered her 'Wish' to jilted lovers, however, Alasha and Charles had so much hate between them and she didn't know of anyone deserving punishment than what Charles did.
....."I'm sorry if I am being mean to you Anya, I am just very upset with my brother and the whole situation. It has nothing to do with you and I guess you can stay until I find a way to undo Charles' mess."
....."Thank you Lady Beckett, I do completely understand the situation and my sympathies are with you," replied Anya.
....."Call me Alasha when we are alone. The formal titles are meaningless to me and are but a part of the family protocol and reminder of the stranglehold it has on me," said Alasha as she looked at Anya noting that she seemed almost too compassionate.
....."Very well Alasha it is then. I have an idea if you would like to hear it?"
....."An idea, a solution to my current dilemma? Please I am open for any suggestions," replied Alasha.
....."Well, I was thinking that we make you up to perfection and then you will look the perfect picture of protocol when you go down to straighten out the mess once Gordon arrives. You see your father will have no choice but to listen to you as you will be looking like an angel, the little angel he wants you to be. The perfect image of protocol that he could marry off easily."
....."That is almost sneaky, I like it," replied Alasha as she fell into Anya's trap.
.....Anya smiled as she began her preparations. She had planned the perfect dress for the occasion, a pale blue outfit that screamed for a certain accessory that was necessary to Anya's plan. A necklace that held a blue stone set in gold, a necklace that gave Anya the power of 'The Wish.' Once Alasha stood in front of the looking glass in her new dress with her hair pulled up and held in place with blue flowers, Anya made her move.
....."You look almost perfect Alasha. However, I think you still need one more thing," she said as she held up her necklace before Alasha's bewildered gaze.
....."Its beautiful," she said. "I don't remember ever seeing it before, that is odd."
.....Anya simply smiled as she fastened it around Alasha's neck. "There you go, perfection. Even Charles will have a hard time attacking an angel."
....."No, he could anyone, he has no scruples," she said with anger beginning to flare within her voice.
....."I guess not. Alasha, why is he that way, why does he hate you so much?"
....."Charles just hates girls. He has no clue what it is like, what I go through."
....."So you wish that he knew what you go through?" Anya smiled, as she was about to get the wish out of Alasha.
....."No, what I wish is that he understood the type of evil that I go up against on a daily basis?"
....."And so he shall Alasha," said Anya as her face dropped all pretense of being human. The fair skinned girl with the medium length brunette hair was replaced by a hideous demonic face that showed the demon that Anya was. "It is done, you have gotten your wish."
.....Alasha simply gasped as Anya disappeared. She quickly regained her composure and tried to figure out just what had happened. Anya was a demon and apparently she had granted her a wish. Somehow this couldn't be a good thing and she needed to see Gordon if she were to figure out what had happened. It then dawned on her that Charles was the subject of her wish, but just what had that wish entailed. She remembered that she had mentioned something about him not understanding girls, could the demon have turned Charles into a girl? She smiled at this prospect, as it would be a fitting punishment for him. However, she had a bad feeling about it and she was certain that whatever had happened would be much worse.
London, England 1551
Gordon's House
.....Gordon looked out the window at the ever darkening sky as night was soon approaching and with that would come another night of training as he really wanted to get Alasha's skills honed before they ran into a big crisis that would challenge everything she had been taught. Being the slayer was never an easy calling and the dangers that Alasha would have to face on a continuos basis, as evil never seemed to take a vacation, would if anything escalate.
.....He was also wondering about Europa and the feelings he was developing for her. He was a Watcher and she was a vampire, not the idea condition for a romance. The Council would certainly tan his hide if they ever found out that he was even entertaining the thought. However, he couldn't help it as there was something about Europa that drew him to her. She was only half demon, he was certain that he was attracted to her human half to the human soul within her even if the demon was integrated into it.
.....His thoughts were interrupted as he heard pounding at his door. He had been expecting Alasha, but she never knocked and the knock sounded loud and official. He walked into his entranceway and as he did, the guardsmen on the front step booted in his door. Gordon looked at them in confusion completely unaware of their intentions. However, he recognized the family crest on their tunics, they were from the Beckett Estate.
....."You will come with us, by order of the Sheriff you are remanded to the custody of Lord Beckett. You will come voluntarily or we will take you by force, the choice is yours,' said one of the guardsmen.
....."No need for force, I will come with you," he said figuring that whatever was happening at the Beckett estate, it involved Alasha and he had the sense that she was in trouble and he only hoped he would be able to help."
London, England 1551
Charles' Chamber
.....Charles watched the sun set from the shadows as he avoided its final dying rays, rays that would burn him if they caressed his undead skin. He stood up as the last of the sun sank behind the horizon and he walked to his window smiling as he began to formulate his plans. He was going to take the estate as his own as his family was about to meet their untimely demise. He was going to kill them all that very night, his first night as a vampire.
.....He turned as he heard his chamber's door open and two servants bowed before him before they entered. He simply smiled at them, as he could smell their blood and it occurred to him that he was very hungry. However, he would not take too much blood, as he needed a few minions if he was to take the estate that night.
.....He walked up to the pair of servants and simply reached out and grabbed them, one in each hand. The two women struggled against his grip, but it was like steel to them and they were but servants. To strike out against nobility was to ask for death and as such they didn't respond until it was too late. Charles' face contorted as the demon came to the surface and he bit into one of the servants not letting go of the other one until it was her turn.
London, England 1551
Courtyard on Beckett Estate
.....Alasha moved silently in the dark as she planned to free Silvae. She was not going to allow any further harm to come to her, as she already felt bad enough about what had happened to her already. She knew that Silvae would have been put in the old shed between whippings and she somehow doubted that her father was finished with the poor girl. She made it to the shed and as she opened it, she gasped in shock as she saw her friend lying on the floor in a fetal position.
....."Oh my God, Silvae, what has he done to you?"
....."Alasha is that you?" Silvae's voice was shaky but yet still contained strength as if to say that she had not been broken. "You have to go, I can take this."
....."No, you will not have to take this. I cannot allow it to go any further. I am going to tell my father the truth if that is what it takes. But I promise you that I am not going to allow him to hurt you anymore."
....."You are a good friend," said Silvae as Alasha helped her to her feet. "However, you have other concerns right now that are more pressing."
....."What could be more pressing than you?"
....."I would hazard a guess to say that the two vampires approaching you from behind might be the right answer to that query," said Silvae as fast as she could.
....."Oh," said Alasha as she spun to face the two former servants bearing down on her in all their demonic glory. "Can I assume you are here to file a grievance?" The two vampires only growled and then rushed at the slayer in the blue dress.
....."I'll take that as a big negative, this would be more like a revolt, or revolting in your case," she said as she punched one of the vampires in the head. She then turned slightly and kicked the second one sending it tumbling backwards. The first vampire tried to punch her back, but she easily blocked the punch. "You know, striking nobility can be hazardous to your health," she said as she returned the punch.
.....Silvae rooted around the shed as Alasha fought the two vampires. She was looking for a weapon, preferably something wooden and pointy. Her fingers found what she was looking for, a piece of wood that was almost stake sized though the point was rather dull. However, with Alasha's slayer strength, it would do so she picked it up and threw it towards Alasha.
....."In fact the way you two have turned on me really makes me wonder where your heart is," she said as she reached up in the air to catch the stake that Silvae had thrown to her. "Wait a minute, I remember, its right here," she said as she shoved the stake through the vampires heart making it explode into dust. "Oh, and over here too," she said as she spun and impaled the other vampire in the same spot."
....."You make that look easy," said Silvae as she walked up to her friend.
....."Well, now we have to deal with my father and somehow I don't think that is going to turn out quite as easy."
London, England 1551
Front Hall of Beckett Estate
.....Edward sat on his chair that was just short of being a throne with Camille sitting by his side when his guardsmen brought Gordon in before him. Edward recognized Gordon, as he had been there before when Sir Crommel had gone crazy and tried to kill his daughter. He remembered seeing something odd about Crommel's face that night, but he had dismissed it all as being an optical illusion of some sort. He had totally repressed the fact that Gordon and Silvae had killed two of his guardsmen turning them into dust at the same time.
....."Gordon Haley, I am sure you know why you are here tonight before me," said Edward in a tone that made sure there would be no doubt as to who was in charge. "In case you have forgotten, you need look no further than your relationship with my daughter."
....."I thought as much." Replied Gordon. "However, if you let me explain I am sure we can work this out and clear up any doubts you have about just what Alasha has been up to."
....."We know the whole story and much more than you realize," said Charles as he entered the main hall deciding to have some fun before he killed them all. "You are a Witch, Mr. Haley and I can prove it. In fact you have placed a spell on Alasha making her believe that she is a Vampire Slayer."
....."What! Charles, you are so full of it," said Alasha as she burst into the room with Silvae in tow. She forgot about her previous worry that Anya had turned Charles into a girl. If anything, she was certain that Charles had stepped over another nasty barrier becoming even worse.
....."What is the meaning of all this. Alasha you are confined to your room and Silvae has no right to be in here, in this estate. However, I will deal with both of you later. For now, we will get to the bottom of this and since everyone is here I guess that is fitting as the truth shall now come out," said Edward with an angry tinge to his voice.
....."I can assure you that I am not a Witch," said Gordon as he realized that things were worse than he had anticipated.
