Here is the next installment of our lovely Skye the Vampire Slayer series and, as always, don't miss ironbunneh's amazing and insanely wonderful artwork!
“Sorry.” Coulson shakes his head. “I’ve just been looking for you for a long time.”
Skye furrows her brow. “Okay...” She drawls out, glancing over her shoulder. All the sisters are otherwise engaged, paying no attention. Stranger danger here people. Look alive.
Coulson wrinkles his nose, clearly regretting his words. “Okay, sorry. I know who you are.”
Skye stares at him. “Um, look-”
“Why did you get kicked out of your last foster home?”
Skye winces. Is that what this is about? Great. “I…” She purses her lips, frowning. “It was all just a misunderstanding.”
This seems to amuse Coulson. “Oh, of course. I mistakenly burn down school property all the time.”
Skye bristles. “That’s not what happened.”
“Okay. Tell me what happened.” Coulson looks at her expectantly.
Skye picks at the tablecloth, tugging at the fraying fabric. The first time anyone asked her that question she tried to tell the truth. She stopped doing that the next dozen times.
“Vampires.” Coulson says, his voice low.
Skye looks up at him, shocked. “What?”
“Isn’t that why you did it?” Coulson studies her curiously. “There were vampires so you burned them. Well, technically you burned the gym but I’m not being picky.” Skye just stares at him. “How did you know what to do? And how to fight them?”
It takes Skye a second to realize that he’s actually asking, that he’s actually curious. She blinks. “I…uh…I don’t know.” She says honestly. “It just sort of…it kinda…clicked?”
Coulson nods, seeming satisfied with this. “Instinct.”
“Instinct.” Skye repeats. Because apparently she’s incapable of thinking up anything to say on her own. Like get the hell away from me crazy man.
Coulson nods again. “I’m sorry Skye. I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to find you. I’ve been looking but…the foster system has made it complicated and you were Chosen younger than most and it’s just been difficult to track you down.”
“I don’t know what all of this means.” Skye shakes her head, trying to push away his words and how they seem to settle over her, fitting into place. Making some sort of sense. “Who are you?”
Who am I?
Coulson just looks at her thoughtfully, studying her. Like he is seeing something other than the surly foster girl. “It should have been different for you. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. I should have been here to help teach and train you and-”
Skye slams her hands on the table. “What am I?” She snarls, keeping her voice at a harsh whisper because she can feel eyes on them, heads turning in their direction. “Why has all this weird shit been happening to me? Those…things keep finding me. What is going on?”
Coulson glances around, waiting until the chatter resumes and the sisters look away. “You’re the Slayer. And I’m your Watcher. Well, I’m supposed to be. It’s taken me so long to find you but I…four years, Skye. Four years since you’ve been the Slayer and I…” He shakes his head. “Honestly it’s amazing that you’ve made it so long.”
“Made it?” Skye glares at him. “Look. I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about. I’m going to need you to not be so vague. What is a Slayer and why do you think that’s me?”
Four years. It’s another piece that feels like it’s clicking into place. Four years ago Skye feels like everything changed for her. She grew stronger and faster, hungrier and more energetic and impatient. All things people do not want in their foster child. Not to mention the dreams, the weird creatures, the voice in her head telling her what to do and how to move and react. The thoughts that tell her that she’s always in danger, always about to turn a corner and walk into something with sharp teeth.
Plus, you know, the gym. And the woods.
Coulson at least has the decency to look apologetic. “The Slayer. You’re special, Skye.”
Magic words to a foster kid in someone else’s pink dress. But suddenly Skye doesn’t like the sound of them.
“Vampires, demons, werewolves, all the things we think are just stories are real. They exist.” Coulson explains. “If it wasn’t for the Slayers, humankind would have died out a long time ago. She keeps the demons at bay.”
Skye arches an eyebrow. “And you think that’s me?” She tries to make her voice sound incredulous and dismissive but it just sounds strained and desperate.
Coulson nods. “I know it’s you, Skye.” He says gently. “When a Slayer dies, a new one is called and her Watcher is chosen. I’m supposed to train you and help you get prepared to-”
“Whoa. I’m going to stop you right there.” Skye holds up a hand. “Who said I agreed to being this Slayer or whatever?”
Coulson looks at her, confused. “Well, Skye, you don’t really have a choice.” He seems mildly amused.
Skye is glad it’s funny to someone.
Skye is pretty sure that, whoever her parents were, they were assholes. And while there are several reasons to support this theory, the number two reason is that she seems to have a genetic propensity to doing the opposite of what someone says to her. Clearly that urge has to come from somewhere.
So Skye just scoffs. “Oh really? Because I think I do.” She arches an eyebrow. “You can’t make me come with you. And you can’t make me be this Slayer or whatever. I don’t want to fight demons and vampires or whatever. You’ve got the wrong girl.”
“There’s no mistake. You’re the Chosen One who-”
“Think again.” Skye interrupts. “I’m not going to do that, okay? I’m going to stay here.” She long since given up on the idea of finding a place and a home.
“Skye-”
Her priorities are different now. “With Ace.” It’s nice to be needed, after all. “And I’ll keep him safe.”
And the others too. From those things in the woods. Vampires.
Coulson leans back in his chair. “Oh, I get it.” He nods. “So you’ll keep an eye on that little boy and make sure nothing happens to him?” Skye nods even though she thinks she’s being tricked. “Okay. Well what about the other little boys and little girls outside these walls? The children and people who you aren’t protecting? Who keeps them safe?”
His words vibrate through her and Skye thinks about Ace all alone in the woods in the dark. What would have happened if she hadn’t shown up? What happens to the people Coulson is talking about?
Skye pushes the thought away and gets to her feet. “Sorry. No.”
Coulson reaches across the table and grabs her wrist as she turns to go. “Skye, wait. There are people who need you, who-”
“They’ve never given a damn about me. Why should I care about them?” Skye pulls her hand free and walks away without another word.
Thankfully Coulson doesn’t try to call her back.
~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“What did that man want?” Ace questions later on, when all the visitors have gone and St. Agnes is back to being dull, dingy and depressing.
They’re sitting in the rec room, though there isn’t much recreation to be had unless you really love ping pong or puzzles with missing pieces. Most of the little kids are crowded around the old TV watching some bizarre cartoon. The older kids have secreted themselves away to get into various forms of trouble away from the eyes of the nuns. Skye would rather hang out here. She’s had enough trouble recently.
“Hmm?” Skye has only been half listening, her thoughts so focused on Coulson and their exchange that it takes her a minute to realize that’s exactly what Ace has asked her about. “Oh. Uh. Nothing really. Just stuff.”
Ace doesn’t look fooled. “Did he want to adopt you?”
Skye scoffs. “No, not exactly.”
“Good.” Ace nods. “I don’t want you to go.” He tells her. “You can keep us all safe here.”
Skye nods absently, thinking about his words. And Coulson’s. Sure she can keep them safe. But what about the people outside of St. Agnes? The people that she’s allegedly been chosen to protect. If she’s really the only person in the world with the ability to keep them safe then what will they do?
Not your problem, Skye she reminds herself. The only person you have to look out for is yourself.
She’s always wanted to be special, to do something and matter. Turns out it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.
~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“Sister Audrey?” Skye questions, knocking gently on the door frame to the sister’s bedroom.
Sister Audrey sets aside her bow, keeping her cello leaned against her knees. “Good morning Skye. You don’t look sick.” There’s a smile on her face but a warning in her tone anyway. Skye can’t blame her; the St. Agnes rejects beg off going to school on a regular basis.
“I’m going.” Skye assures her, gesturing to the ratty backpack on her shoulders. “I just…that man you were talking to yesterday? Mr. Coulson? He didn’t like leave his number or anything did he?”
Audrey brightens and stands, gently sitting her cello aside. “As a matter of fact he did. He left it in the office. I’ll dig it up for you.” Audrey assures her. “You know, he seemed like a very nice man. I think it’s a good idea for you to give him a chance.”
Skye manages to refrain from rolling her eyes, mostly because she knows that Sister Audrey is completely sincere. “Thank you, sister.” She mumbles, already regretting her decision.
Well, you know what they say about fate. Skye isn’t exactly sure what it is they say but she’s sure it’s inspirational and vaguely annoying.
~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“It’s called what now?”
“Sunnydale.” Coulson tells her again. He sees the look on her face and chuckles. “I know, I know. But don’t let the name fool you. It actually sits right on top of a Hellmouth.”
Skye frowns and sits back in the passenger seat, frowning. “The Hellmouth.” She mumbles. “Well that sounds great.”
Coulson goes on to tell her that the energy from the Hellmouth works like a magnet, drawing vampires and other foul beasties from all over. He goes on to mention the extremely high rate of missing and dead townspeople and how the Slayer will be just what the preverbal doctor ordered. “If it sucks so bad, why doesn’t everyone just move?” Coulson laughs but Skye feels like it was a perfectly logical question.
~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Skye is no stranger to new foster homes. With them come new bedrooms, new rules and new schools. As far as the room and the rules go, Coulson’s aren’t so bad. Skye hopes she can say the same about the school.
As Skye lays in her brand new bed in her brand new room in her brand new house with her brand new guardian sleeping just down the hall, all she can think about is how absolutely freaking weird this whole situation is. Not just the Slayer thing because that’s so weird she’s pretty sure “weird” doesn’t even over it but the whole foster situation.
In her short sixteen years, Skye has been able to enjoy twenty different foster homes in seven different counties and seven different school districts. She’s been a temporary daughter, a marriage counselor, a sibling, a replacement child, income check and a babysitter. But she’s never experienced anything like being under Coulson’s roof.
Theirs is a placement of necessity, after all. Skye doesn’t have any romanticized feelings of home and family and belonging. He’s her Watcher and apparently it’ll be easier to watch her from his own home. It’s as simple as that. Skye figures she should be grateful anyway: her own room, her own bathroom, plenty of food and no one to bug her. Could be worse.
Also, of course, could be better. She could do without the whole vampire slaying and demon hunting part of the deal.
Coulson assured her over dinner that training could start tomorrow and they’d cover the history and legacy of the Slayer in addition to cardio and actual training. But Skye can’t seem to stop thinking about it. And can you blame her? It’s not exactly everyday that you learn that you alone are supposed to stand against the vampires, demons and the forces of darkness. She’s the Slayer.
Whatever that means.
Needless to say, Skye isn’t exactly feeling bright-eyed and bushy-tailed when her alarm goes off the following morning. Skye grumbles to herself throughout her morning routine before finally shuffling downstairs to join Coulson in the kitchen. Thankfully it smells like coffee.
“Can’t we just skip this whole happy family routine?” Skye questions as she searches the cabinets for mugs. “Do I really have to go to school?”
Coulson looks mildly amused by her suggestion. “You still have a case worker. And I’m still your legal guardian.” He reminds her.
Skye shrugs as she pours coffee into her mug. “Yeah but it’s all just for show anyway.” She points out. Coulson doesn’t say anything but doesn’t exactly look pleased by her words. “Plus if I don’t go to school there’s more time for…Slayer stuff.”
“School then training.” Coulson decrees. “Though good to see you’re so eager.”
Skye scoffs.
“You might like Sunnydale High.” Coulson continues. “Maybe you’ll even make some new friends.”
Skye gives him a skeptical look over the rim of her mug. Coulson just shrugs. “Suit yourself.”
~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Skye can say with utmost authority that one high school is exactly like any other. Same classes, same teachers, same cliques, same stares and whispers as she walks down the hallway. You’d think they’d find something more interested to talk about than the new girl.
As far as Skye can tell, Sunnydale is just going to bring more of the same. The campus is nice enough, she reasons, big and surrounded by a high fence that wraps the entire perimeter. There are students milling about outside, lounging on the green or hanging out by their cars, all seemingly interested in putting off the approaching first bell.
Skye tries not to stare out the window as Coulson pulls into the back parking lot. Who cares what her classmates are like? It’s not like they’re going to be paling around anytime soon. The worst part about transferring schools is that everyone already has a place, the roles have been cast in each friend group. Skye is destined to dwell on the fringes, something that will undoubtedly become more apparent thanks to this Slayer nonsense. Why bother scoping out potential BFFs?
Coulson maneuvers into a parking spot and Skye quickly looks in his direction. “Oh, you don’t have to come in.” She assures him quickly, mildly panicked by the idea.
But Coulson just scoffs and opens the car door. “I work here.” He tells her. “But I’ll try not to acknowledge you in public.”
Skye wrinkles her nose but doesn’t bother to reply. Oh well, it’s not like she cares about her cool factor or anything.