JONATHAN
THE VAMPIRE SLAYERPart11

It was still night. Jonathan and Andrew were both exhausted from running too fast. They were back at the warehouse. Neither of them had said anything since the park.

Andrew was out of breath and panted, ”I can't believe we got away from them,".

Jonathan did not say anything. He sat down on a crate and stared at the floor. Andrew knew what was wrong. He turned to him and said, ”It’s not your fault. There was nothing you could do...those guys were really strong,".

Jonathan snapped and said, ”It was my fault. I shouldn't have left him there. What were you doing there anyway? I told you not to come along,”

"I couldn't just let you go there alone. You could have died-" Andrew said before being interrupted.

"No. I didn't die, but Merrick did. If I hadn't been so weak maybe he would still be alive,” Jonathan said.

Andrew sat next to Jonathan on the crate and said, ”You’ve only been doing this whole Slayer gig for a few days. There was no way you could have stopped those vampires from killing Merrick,”

Jonathan gulped and said, "You're right. I hate to admit it but you're right. Merrick told me that he thought a great evil was about to rise in the town...but now that he's gone I...we have no idea what to do or even how to stop them,”

Andrew said, "Jonathan, you have to calm down. Go home and rest. Tomorrow after school we'll come back here and try and figure out a plan,”

Jonathan said, "What? You mean carry on as if nothing has happened? Things have changed. Someone is dead!”

"Don't you think Merrick would have wanted you to carry on? We don't know what these vamps are planning, but if we stick together then maybe we can stop them,” Andrew said.

To be continued...

JONATHAN
THE VAMPIRE SLAYERPart12

The High school bell rang, once again signalling the end of another school day. Jonathan had not been able to concentrate on his classes all day.

Jonathan and Andrew were walking to the warehouse when Andrew asked, ”Jonathan did you get any sleep last night?”

"No,” Jonathan replied, "I was too worried to sleep. Everything is changing so fast. Maybe I'm not cut out to be the Slayer. I don't think I can cope with this,”

"You can," Andrew reassured. To Jonathan's surprise Andrew was quite calm and assertive in a time of crisis, it was a side of him he had never seen before, usually he only thought of Andrew as his shy geek best friend.

Suddenly Jonathan remembered something, "Merrick told me that he had some books called the Chronicles...that are like supposed to filled with this vampire junk,”

"Well lets get over to the warehouse and get studying then!” Andrew cheered jokingly. He was only trying to be strong for Jonathan's sake. In the past few days’ there lives had changed completely and it was hard not to succumb to the feeling of defeat.

As Jonathan and Andrew made their way to the warehouse Jonathan asked,” Did you get home all right last night? Did your dad or Tucker ask questions?”

Andrew lived with his layabout father and his twisted brother Tucker. They were always very nosey and never let Andrew do anything independently; it was always amusing for them to humiliate Andrew.

Andrew answered, "No.Dad was already sleep when I got home and Tucker was in the basement...as usual,”

Andrew and Jonathan were now at the warehouse. When they entered they looked around to see where the Chronicles might be. Jonathan came across a large wooden trunk. He opened it and called over to Andrew,” They’re in here. They look kind of old and musty,”

Jonathan pulled out a large book and handed it to Andrew. He blew some dust of the top of it and read the title "PERGAMUM CODEX: PROPHESIES OF THE SLAYER".

"Strange,” Andrew said,” A whole book about you,”

"What's it say about me?” Jonathan asked.

Andrew began flipping through the pages and said,” I dunno. It's sorta set out like a timeline. It's all vague stuff. There’s lots of stuff about previous Slayers. The ones that came before you. Oh wait...this page says something about you...I think,".

Jonathan grabbed the book and read it aloud,” During the second year of the twenty-first century a Slayer will face the Master. The Slayer will no neither experience nor skill but he will face the Master in The Valley of The Sun and the gates to Hell will open,”

Andrew gulped and said, "That doesn't sound very optimistic. Sounds gloomy. What is the Valley of the Sun?”

Jonathan suggested,” Maybe it means Sunnydale. The Master wants to open the Hellmouth,”

To be continued...

JONATHAN
THE VAMPIRE SLAYERPart13

The vampires were gathered once again in their underground lair. They gathered around their beloved Master. His monstrous face was filled with glee. He turned to his disciples and said,” Tonight children is our night. The night we have waited long for. The opening of the Hellmouth. As I stand upon it now I feel an overwhelming sense of power!".

The other vampires cheered in unison,” Power!".

The Master said, ”No one can stop us. Not even the Slayer. Ha! The cowardly Slayer fled from me and the Watcher is dead. It seems that fate is smiling down on us tonight,".

The female vampire dressed in a silky white gown stepped forward with a candle and said, ”Begin the ritual,".

The vampires kneeled before their Master. Luke handed the Master a large sword covered with jewels. The Master held it high and began to chant, ”By the power of this sword I call upon the Ancient Ones. Hear my cries. I call upon the Ancient Power. Open the mouth of Hell!".

The vampire disciples gazed up in awe at their Master as a flurry of white lights began to swirl around his body. He left out a feeling akin to pleasure and said,” In the name of Van-tal I implore thee open!".

Before he could say anything more a flaming arrow struck the female vampire. Her body vaporised into flames. Andrew and Jonathan stood behind her armed with crossbows.

Luke stepped in front of them and said, ”What are you doing here?!".

Jonathan said, ”Kicking your ass!".

Luke ordered the other vampires, ”Protect the Master! Don't let them stop the ritual,".

Jonathan dropped his crossbow and lunged forward at Luke. The anger that built up over Merrick's death was being released. Jonathan kicked and punched harder and faster than he ever thought possible. He anticipated Luke's every move and knocked him to the ground.

Andrew was preparing another arrow for his crossbow as a vampire began to approach him. "Uh oh," Andrew began to mumble nervously,” What am I gonna do now?".

The vampire bared his teeth and pounced on Andrew. Andrew was pinned down. He struggled to try and grab a nearby arrow that lay on the floor. The vampire bit into his neck.” Ouch!".

Andrew grabbed an arrow and pushed it into the vampire's chest. "Ouch! You can't just go around stabbing people with bits of wood!" the vampire complained.

Andrew kicked the vampire off him. As he fell backwards the vampire dusted.

Jonathan was completely unaware of Andrew's nearby struggle. He was too busy laying into the vamps that were trying to protect the Master. Jonathan shoved several vampires out the way until the Master was in full sight. The Master was now filling with power; his body was glowing from the ritual. The spot on which he stood was now forming a glowing swirling whirlpool. That was the Hellmouth, it was starting to grow larger.

Jonathan kicked the Master full force in the stomach, causing him to topple over. The glowing lights faded and the whirlpool disappeared.

The Master cried out, ”Stupid child! You stopped the ritual! You broke my concentration,".

Jonathan picked up the Master's sword and held it too his neck, “Now its just you and me! You deserve to have every square inch of your ass kicked,".

The Master laughed and said, “My children step back. The Slayer is mine and only I alone shall kill him,".

Jonathan turned to Andrew and shouted, "Go. I can handle this!".

Andrew did not argue and ran out of the cave using the sewer tunnel both he and Jonathan had used to enter. Andrew just hoped that Jonathan would get out of the cave alive.

The Master turned to Jonathan and said, “Well boy. Do you think you can take me?".

To be continued...

JONATHAN
THE VAMPIRE SLAYERPart14

The Master and Jonathan began to circle each other slowly.

The Master asked Jonathan, “Do you know how many Slayers I've killed in my time?".

Jonathan grunted, “Less talk. More fight,".

"Twelve,” the Master answered, “Deep down all of them wanted it,".

Jonathan was now starting to get scared. The adrenaline rush was fading and now the fear was settling in.He was in a cave with only one entrance and was surrounded by vampires. His chances of survival were very slim.

The Master continued to talk as he and Jonathan circled each other. The Master cackled, “In your heart you want me to kill you. That’s why you came. A Slayer's life is filled with pain. You don't want that life. You want me to take it away from you,".

Jonathan swung at the Master with the sword but missed. Still the Master continued to taunt him, “You don't want the life of a Slayer. You can't handle it. You couldn't even protect the Watcher. He died because of you. He died because you were weak and a coward,".

"Stop it!” Jonathan screamed. Once again he swung at the Master with the sword. Jonathan was now at breaking point.

The Master just laughed. He then lunged at Jonathan, ready to take the boy's life.

In a moment that lasted only seconds, but felt like a lifetime to Jonathan, a strange sensation built up in his heart. It was a feeling that he had not felt in a long time; hope. Jonathan moved quicker than lightening and plunged his fist into the Master's chest. He felt the cold un-beating heart in the Master's chest and ripped it out. The Master looked into Jonathan's eyes with shock before exploding into a cloud of dust.

Jonathan sighed and was panting heavily. He could not believe what had just happened. He had won. He had beaten the Master.

Jonathan's feeling of victory was short as he remembered that the room was filled with the Master's disciples. “Get the Slayer! He killed our beloved Master!” cried Luke.

Jonathan dashed past several vamps and headed for the tunnel. As he ran through the tunnels he knew he was being chased, but he still ran. He searched in his pockets for something. He pulled out a silver canister.

At the end of the tunnel Jonathan could see the canal and Andrew waiting for him. He ran past Andrew and shouted at him, “Close the entrance,".

Andrew and Jonathan attempted to push the entrance door closed. It was a close call because the vampires were very near. The door was almost shut when Jonathan opened the lid to the silver canister and threw it into the tunnel. The entrance door slammed shut.

Andrew and Jonathan then ran as fast as their legs could carry them. They suddenly heard a large explosion and stopped running to look behind them. Flames and smoke began to rise out of the entrance to the tunnel.

Andrew turned to Jonathan and asked, "What was that?".

Jonathan giggled and said, “Just a little something I whipped up in science class,".

Andrew asked, “Did we win? Are they gone? Is it over?".

Jonathan answered, “We won. They’re gone, but it's not over. This was just the beginning. The next threat we face could be very different. But I'll win. Do you want to know why?".

"Why?” Andrew asked.

Jonathan smiled at his best friend and said, "Cuz I'm the Slayer,".

THE END