Chapter 4

Buffy and the figure zoomed up to a rooftop and landed. Buffy pushed herself away from the figure and the two looked at each other silently for a moment. She looked at his eyes, only his eyes. That's all she could see. Maybe that was enough.

"Who are you?" She asked.

The figure gazed at her from under his hood.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

(I imagine this playing softly in the background mostly the beginning part)

"The wisdom of our creed is revealed through these words; we work in the dark, to serve the light."

The figure steps forward to her. The moon glinting off his black robes.

"We are Assassins." It finishes.

"We?" Buffy asks.

"We are the ones who serve the council of watchers. Sent to fight the forces of darkness as you are and where you are not."

"Then what are you doing here? I've got it covered...somewhat."

"But you do not have the council." He says.

"So you were sent here to what? Spy on me?" Buffy asks.

"The councils main interest is Octavia."

"And their secondary interest?" Buffy asks sternly.

"You don't have to worry." He says. "Ask your watcher if you wish to know more about our order."

"I will." Buffy says. "Thank you, for helping the other night." Her tone lightens.

Buffy notices his wrist blade. The Assassin unsheathes it.

"The signature weapon of the assassin. Anointed with holy oil so that it may pierce whatever demonic elements it faces. Leaving a distinct mark." He says.

Buffy admires the weapon a moment.

"Why did you bring me here?" She asks.

"There's something I had to tell you about Octavia." The assassin says and then pauses.

"There's a reason why the she is so strong, why she's giving you this much trouble." He says.

"She's not giving me trouble....not really anyway." Buffy says unsure of herself.

The Assassin circles around Buffy.

"She will, she knows you in and out, how you move how you think. She knows all of this because..."

The Assassin stops. Buffy turns to face him.

"She was once a slayer."

Buffy's eyes go wide.

"A slayer?" Buffy asks. She can't believe what she's heard.

The assassin looks out to the city.

"Once a gifted slayer succumbed to the darkness. She despises the idea of the slayer and the slayer herself. She blames it for what she has become." He laments.

Buffy swallows hard. A million thoughts run through her head. Her own worst nightmare realized, a slayer turned vampire and the possibility that she had the same fate.

"Is there a way to turn her back?" Buffy asks.

The Assassin's eyes meet hers.

"I was hoping we could find out together." He says.

"And is that what the council wants?" Buffy asks.

The Assassin doesn't give a response, his eyes say it all. The Assassin turns away and makes ready to leave.

"Wait, how will I find you again?" She asks.

"I'll find you." The Assassin says as he jumps from the rooftop and parkours into the night.

—-

Buffy climbs down from the rooftop and runs to catch up with her friends.

Giles, Willow, Xander frantically search for Buffy, keeping their eyes up at the rooftops. "Buffy! Buffy!"

"I'm here." Buffy says as she comes up behind Xander.

"Not now Buffy we're looking for Buffy." Xander says.

"Buffy!" Willow shouts.

Xander turns back around realizing he just saw Buffy.

"Buffy? Buffy!"

Xander hugs her. Giles and Willow join the group hug.

"Are you all right?" Giles asks.

"What happened?" Willow asks.

"Did mysterious dude turn out to be a double agent for the creatures of the night?" Xander inquires.

The gang begins walking and talking. The night has becomes gentle.

"Giles, he said you would know who he is. He is part of the order of Assassins." Buffy says. "The council sent him here."

"Assassins?" Willow asks?

"The council of watchers? I thought we stopped dealing with them." Xander says.

"Yes. Well. We have." Giles says silencing them. "Yes." Giles rubs his chin then starts to lecture. "The Assassins first began as the Knights Templar. A band of noble catholic knights which were meant to protect pilgrims on the road to the holy land. When the crusades were over the knights became relatively monotonous. Until one day one of the knights spotted a demon and struck him down."

"Woah." Xander says in awe.

"And so the knights had a new cause they were to defend the world against the demonic forces around them. Though when they told the king of what happened he had them all tortured and arrested as idol worshipers, heretics and so on." Giles says nonchalantly.

"And so on?" Willow asks.

"Of course it was later found out that King Philip IV was actually a vampire himself." Giles laughs at the irony.

"So how did they become the assassins?" Buffy asks.

"Well after the fall of the Templar order they realized they would need to move in secret and work in the shadows to accomplish their goal of stopping the world from being taken over by demonic forces. So they formed the council of watchers and the templars became the assassins." Giles says. "Meant to work side by side with the slayer against the forces of darkness."

"We work in the dark to serve the light." Buffy says.

"Yes, something like that." Giles says.

Then he suddenly remembers. "Wait a minute remember when those men came to collect faith?"

"Those were assassins?"

"Well, maybe not. The assassins are an elite fighting force with specialized weaponry." Giles states.

"So the council of watchers is catholic?" Willow says.

"Uh, yes." Giles says.

"So my boss is the pope?" Buffy asks.

Giles laughs, then gets serious. "Oh, dear."

"So this is all good right? We got more backup to fight the baddies and whoever the commandos were." Xander says.

"Well, this Assassin works directly for the council so considering our current standing he may not share our exact goals." Giles warns.

"I think he does." Buffy says. "He told me something important about Octavia."

"What is it?"

"That she was once a slayer." Buffy says.

Giles, Willow and Xander stand in shock. A shiver creeps up their spines.

"Really?" Giles asks.

"She's a lot more dangerous than we thought." Buffy says.

"And does this Assassin have a plan to take her down? Does he know her?" Willow asks.

"I'm not sure. But he said he wanted to try and figure out a way to save her. Turn her back to normal...together." Buffy says.

Giles, Willow and Xander stand in agreement. They all have a certain empathy for Octavia a bit of an understanding but they know she can't be allowed to operate anymore.

Giles cleans his glasses. "Well, we certainly have our work cut out for us." Giles says.

Our four heroes stand in contemplative silence as the moon shines brightly above.

—-The commandos are still in pursuit of Octavia. Their goggles glowing green giving them the appearance of supernaturals. Octavia turns and swiftly takes down two commandos turning their own weapons against them. Another Commando produces a knife and engages her in hand to hand combat. He manages to cut her arm, splattering blood on the wall. Octavia has had enough and sends him flying with a spinning wheel kick. Octavia manages to escape as the rest of the commandos close in. One of the commandos spots the blood on the wall.

"Get a sample, the professor will want one."

"Roger."

-Cut to-

A group of commandos descend into a secret underground base. The base is enormous and houses many vampires that are experimented in. Demons are rare and in high demand for the initiative.

A number of scientists and commandos walk around the base. A large pit in the middle is where the majority of experimentation takes place.

Ivar - played by

Ivar one of the lead scientists and a cripple. (yes basically Ivar the boneless don't worry I think it will fit well. You'll see)  limps around on a crutch over seeing various experiments and surgeries. He notices Evan with the slash across his face.

"What kind of blade was he cut with." Ivar asks.

"We're not sure, we've never seen anything like it." The scientist says.

Suddenly a scientist runs up to Ivar.

"Sir, we got results back from that blood, you won't believe what we found." The scientist hands Ivar a report.

"The slayer, we thought she was a myth." Ivar says.

"The slayer turned vampire." The scientist adds.

"Did you show her yet?" Ivar asks.

"No."

Ivar walks off.

—

Ivar enters an office, the boss' office.

"We found something I think you'll want to see." Ivar says.

The boss, whoever they are, sit away from Ivar looking at a hundred screens all of dorm rooms. The chair turns to reveal professor Maggie Walsh. The head of the military operation known as the initiative. Head demonologist. They've captured enough vampires but demonic power that's something else. Slayer power? Even better.

Maggie takes the report and looks at it stunned.

"Make finding her a top priority." She says.

Walsh flips through the report showing images of Octavia taken from the soldiers body-cam. She stares at them intently.

-Fade out-

Inside the Bronze. Buffy and Willow are sitting at a table chatting.

Willow : "Hey look. Parker's here. You're not looking? He looks really cute in green."

Buffy : "Teal. He's reflected in the mirror."

The round security mirror shows Parker shooting pool.

Willow : "You know when you spend all week with a boy you are allowed to look at him directly."

Buffy : "Not all week. We hung out. Moderately incessantly. But we're not here together tonight. You know, I don't want to crowd him."

Willow : "Buffy's having lusty wrong feelings."

Buffy : "No I'm not."

Willow : "No, you're not."

Buffy : "Oh, I so am."

Willow : "No, uh, they're not wrong feelings cause you're free, you're both grown-ups. You are free, right?"

Buffy: "Yeah, you're right Will."

Willow: "I know."

Buffy: "Another nice thing about this week was absolutely no Octavia sightings. Maybe the army guys scared her off."

Willow: "Any luck finding a way to change her back?"

Buffy: "Giles has been looking and obsessing over the supernatural commando hunter guys. When he finds an answer to either he'll let us know."

Willow: "And any sightings of our Assassin?"

Buffy: "No, maybe he doesn't want to crowd me."

Parker walks over and puts his hand on Buffy's shoulder.

Parker : "Hi."

Buffy : "Hi."

Parker : "I just wanted to let you know I'm headed out. And it's not real safe here, so if you want to walk back to your dorm."

Buffy : "How silly of me not to have planned ahead."

Willow smiles and Buffy gets her jacket and stands up to leave with Parker.

—

Parker and Buffy walk down the street.

Parker : "Uh, hobbies. Interests. I feel like there's so much I don't know about you. What do you like to do?"

Buffy : "Mostly I hang out. And do ... stuff."

Parker : "Yeah, I was into that for a while. Hey, what's that."

Buffy : "What's what?"

Parker pushes aside the collar of her jacket to reveal the scar from when Angel fed on her.

Parker : 'You have a scar.

Buffy : "Yeah ... right ... angry puppy. So, I get to see any of your scars?"

Parker : "Oh, mine are all psychological."

Buffy : "Please, those are the best kind."

Parker : "Well my father died last year."

Buffy : "Oh, God. Parker, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring it up, that stuff. Oh, bad, bad Buffy."

Parker : "No, I'm okay to talk about it now. And I'm not doing to deep, get sympathy routine. I mean don't you just hate guys that are all 'I'm dark and brooding so give me love?'"

Buffy : "I don't think I've ever met that type."

They sit on a bench.

Parker : "I just wanted to say that it was so sad cause there was well, a lot of stuff that he didn't finish. It make me think about, you know, living for now.'

Buffy : «I think about that sometimes. I sort of drowned a couple years ago. But I came back. Obviously. But I don't, I don't put stuff off anymore. Like you were saying.»

Parker : "That's great. I mean, everybody says they get it. 'Oh, man. Me too. Live for today.' But what they really what is a reason to goof off. Not study for finals."

Buffy : "Also a valid life choice."

Parker : "It's cool to find someone else who understands."

Buffy : "So Parker Abrams. When you go to sleep tonight, what are you going to regret not doing today?"

Parker : "I'm going to regret ... being too nervous to ask you to go to the party at Wolfhouse tomorrow night. Do you want to go to the party - "

Buffy : "Yes."

They smile at each other.

From the shadows a few figures watch the together.

—

Buff has left Parker and makes her way back to her dorm. Something doesn't feel right, she turns and looks around. No one is there. She turns and goes inside.

Another figure watches her from the shadows. Observing her until she appears in her dorm room window, getting ready for bed.

—

Giles pours through his books and ancient texts to look for a way to turn back Octavia. A drawing of the commandos sits on his table. He researches way into the night.

Xander snores on the couch, he was supposed to help with the research.

—

Professor Rhys prepares notes for his lecture in his office. Buffy knocks on an open door.

"Professor?"

"Come in." Rhys says. "What can I do for you, Buffy Summers?"

A guilty look comes across her face.

"I'm so sorry, I forgot to write my paper I just had a lot going on outside of class." She says.

"Everything all right?"

"Yeah it will be."

Rhys gets up from his desk and collects his messenger bag.

"It's okay Buffy, tell you the truth I only give assignments because my department demands it." Rhys says. "Walk with me."

Buffy and Rhys leave his office and walk to the classroom.

"Did you read it?" Rhys asks.

"Oh, uh-" Buffy starts but she can't lie. "No. I'm sorry."

Rhys chuckles.

"It's all right." Rhys says. "Look Buffy my goal is just that you get something out of this class. Everyone's going to pass- Don't tell anyone I said that."

"I won't."

"I just want my students to think about things. Think about words, meaning. And hopefully they learn something about themselves." He says.

They reach the outside of the classroom.

"I'll try harder." Buffy says firmly.

"I Just want you to enjoy the class." Rhys says.

"I do." She says.

They walk in, Buffy takes her seat and Rhys get setup at his desk. He fixes his loose tie, makes it looser.

"Since you haven't read The Phantom of the Opera hopefully todays lecture will make you want to." Rhys says as he starts to write on the board.

"It's entirely possible." Buffy says. Smirking.

—-

Willow traipses past Rhys' classroom and sneaks a look inside. She locates Buffy who seems to be paying attention, probably for the first time in her life.

Inside: Rhys lectures on The Phantom of the Opera.

"The novel features a love triangle between the Phantom, Christine, and Raoul. Raoul is seen as Christine's childhood love whom she is familiar with and has affection for. He is rich and therefore offers her security as well as a wholesome. The Phantom, on the other hand, is not familiar. He is dark, ugly, and dangerous and therefore represents the forbidden love. However, Christine is drawn to him because she sees him as her Angel of Music, and she pities his existence of loneliness and darkness."  Rhys says.

Buffy thinks about the masked Assassin, a phantom.

Rhys says as he turns a page and then quotes from the novel "I love you as certain dark things are to be loved. In secret, between the shadow and soul."

Rhys' words affect the whole class. One student adds to the conversation. "I love that line...

Buffy finally notices Willow in the window. The discussion drowns out as she gives a small wave to Willow.

"Do you have a secret identity Buffy?" Rhys asks drawing her attention back to the room.

"What?"

"Do you have a secret identity?"

Buffy laughs nervously "No." she says.

Rhys asks another student the same question and they respond in kind.

Willow disappears from the window. Rhys inquires to the class. "Don't we all wear a mask? Everyday, around our friends our families?"

One student interjects. "The phantom only wears it because he's disfigured."

"That is true." Rhys says. "How many of us are afraid that if we showed who we really were to people that they would be horrified? Or even see us as disfigured?" Rhys raises his own hand. A couple of students sheepishly raise theirs. Buffy only slightly raises her hand.

Rhys continues "The mask the phantom wears symbolizes vulnerability and he is forced to wear it to hide himself from people. Although the mask gives him some control over his life as it allows him to decide who he unmasks himself for. The removal of masks occurs at crucial moments in the story. During the masked ball, for instance, Christine removes her mask to reveal her anguish to Raul. In all cases removing of ones mask reveals one's vulnerability."

Rhys sits on his desk. "So are we afraid to be vulnerable?"

Buffy answers. "Yes."

"Why?" Rhys says.

"Because it leaves us open to attack." Buffy says.

"That's true. We might be judged for who we are or our actions." Rhys reads from his annotated copy of The Phantom of The Opera and reads from it. "I have invented a mask that makes me look like anybody. People will not even turn around in the streets."  Rhys flips to another page. "And my favorite, 'None will ever be a true Parisian who has not learned to wear a mask of gaiety over his sorrows and one of sadness, boredom or indifference over his inward joy,'"

The whole class absorbs the quote.

"So why do we feel better under a mask? Or do we?" Rhys asks.

One student raises their hand. "Because we don't have to be responsible. Whatever we do or say was just a character we were playing."

"Right, because the mask gives too much permission to it's wearer." Rhys says.

Another student chimes in. "We don't entirely trust everyone so this way we don't have to." They say.

"We don't trust people, we're afraid of what they might think and maybe were a little afraid of who we are....but we forget there are others who feel the same and we'll never get to know them if we're all wearing masks. Or are we afraid we've worn a masks so long that it's who we are?" Rhys says.

Rhys pauses looks out to the class, exchanges a look with Buffy.

"What we do in shadow, shows who we are as people. What we do behind a mask, reveals the nature of our hearts." Rhys says.

The whole class is moved.

One student flips through their book then raises her hand. "Which character said that?"

"I did, just now." Rhys says. "That's it for today."Rhys dismisses the class.

Everyone has taken something away from the lecture including Buffy who ponders her own identity. Her true one and the one she has to be when facing demons and the supernatural and the question of which one is her true self. She also thinks about the masked Assassin and the Commandos. Who are the people behind them? Then she thinks about Octavia as she walks through the campus, who was she before she was a vampire? Who was she when she was a slayer? Who was she before that? Just a girl attending school, like her? Just a girl with a family and friends? Was she really just a deformed monster hiding in her lair? Or Just a girl who didn't ask for this?

-Fade out-

End of Part IV

Author's Note: Explanation for Templars - I know that the Templars and Assassin's in the video games are against each other but in history the Templars were a real order of knights. I wanted to take something from history and make it make sense in the Buffy universe and I think it makes more sense for the council of watchers to be a religious bureaucracy rather than some English guys that dabble in the occult if they stand diametrically apposed to the demonic and things alike. Their theology would give them more of a reason to fight the forces of darkness and would lead to conflict in which methods are best to carry out that mission. Plus the cross and holy water have always been used against the vampires so it would go with this idea well. This would also add more weight to the assassin members as we would know what they believe and how their actions would follow suit. So I made it that the council of watchers would have had origins in the catholic order of the knights templar then transitioned to the Assassins when they had to become more secretive. So there it is. The council of watchers are like the head and the assassins are the soldiers they send out.

I'm also trying to establish a class difference between vampires and demons. Demons should feel terrifying and powerful all the time. While vampires are pretty common place. Aside from the more ancient ones, they're small potatoes.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter!