{"id":13398,"date":"2024-04-07T12:42:42","date_gmt":"2024-04-07T11:42:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/?p=13398"},"modified":"2025-06-27T09:26:20","modified_gmt":"2025-06-27T08:26:20","slug":"mercenary-hearts-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/2024\/04\/07\/mercenary-hearts-11\/","title":{"rendered":"Mercenary Hearts 11"},"content":{"rendered":"

Giles Home.<\/strong>\u00a0 (Sun evening.)<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Everyone had now draped themselves around his lounge, looking relaxed and happily sated after their much-needed food break. Glancing at the time, Giles felt relieved that he\u2019d almost finished.<\/span><\/p>\n

He began by explaining that the last bit of information had come directly from Wesley Wyndham Pryce, who had returned to the WC Head Office after the Faith debacle.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although a portion of the Council thought his failure to control the new slayer were well below the required standards of a watcher, the higher-ups were less inclined to lose his innate research abilities, that were enhanced by his eidetic memory.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt wasn\u2019t entirely his fault,\u201d Cordelia felt she had to stick up for the young man. Although her little crush had ended on a gross note, he hadn\u2019t been a bad guy.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe if he\u2019d listened to Giles instead of acting like a self-righteous jerk, it might have panned out\u201d Buffy reminded her.<\/span><\/p>\n

Giles cleared his throat loudly as the two girls glared at each other. \u201cLet\u2019s get this done, shall we?\u201d He watched them both deflate and was satisfied that they were now attentive.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe gruesome team reigned unimaginable terror across Europe, until 1898, when all abruptly changed.\u201d Giles stretched in his seat to ease the uncomfortable fullness in his stomach.<\/span><\/p>\n

Xander rubbed his bloated midsection with a satisfied grin stretching his face. \u201cWell, we know they didn\u2019t get dusted. Cos, hello? Still undead.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Tara, who\u2019d remained silent throughout the meeting, felt emboldened to ask \u201cso what happened?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Giles sighed. This was at the point where it became\u2026 muddy to say in the least. Time to wrap it up<\/em>.\u00a0 He apprised them of the bare facts.<\/span><\/p>\n

The four vampires were rampaging through Romania at the time. Same old to them. But this time Angelus and Spike raped, tortured, and then horribly murdered two teenage girls of the ancient Kalderash Clan – Romani gypsies.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThese were not just any gypsies, unfortunately for them,\u201d Giles gravely pointed out. \u201cThe clan was ancient and a force to be reckoned with, their prowess in magick unmatched. And the girls \u2013 twins, apparently, also happened to be the only daughters of the Elder \u2013 the powerful Matriarch of the Clan.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Some witnesses living in the surrounding dwellings had been interviewed by the governing bodies of the small town at the time. The residents were said to have seen a vast group of \u2018Gypsies\u2019 descending upon the mansion the vampires had taken over.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

After the sounds of loud yells and fighting, a slightly smaller group exited, many favoring wounds they\u2019d received. A dozen men half carried, half dragged two tightly bound and barely dressed men.<\/span><\/p>\n

They were followed out of the building by two more gypsies who carefully carried bundles wrapped in dark blue cloaks. One was said to have seen a woman\u2019s bloodied arm dangling from the covering, and had assumed that the two hostages captured were responsible for at least two murders.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about the two other vampires?\u201d Oz quietly asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOne assumes they made their escape through the back of the building,\u201d Giles replied. \u201cAs we all know, Drusilla made an appearance not so long ago, and as for Darla\u2026 there were whispers of her involvement in the attempted Harvest, which,\u201d he added, \u201cisn\u2019t that surprising since the Master happened to also be her sire.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Silence filled the room for almost a minute before Xander asked, \u201cWhat do you think happened to Fang and Fido?\u201d Willow snickered at his funny. Cordelia just rolled her eyes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, from the absence of accounts of their movements from that time, it was assumed that the vampires had most likely been tortured to within an inch of their unnatural lives and had then received stakes to the heart.\u201d Giles replied. \u201cBut as we are now aware that Angelus and Spike survived, they somehow – incredibly, managed to escape their captors.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

****<\/span><\/p>\n

The Chase Mansion<\/strong>. (Sun late evening.)<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Cordy swore under her breath as she attempted to shove the key quickly in the lock.\u00a0 The shrill sound of a phone could be heard even through the thick double doors.<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally!<\/em> Slamming the door behind her, she rushed across the darkened entrance hall to grab the phone.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Hi, this is the – Hey, Daddy.”- Smiling on recognizing the caller, Cordy took a moment to catch her breath while she waited for his next words.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHi sweetheart. Called to see how you are. We\u2019re in Milan for a few days.\u201d God<\/em>, she thought, they might as well be the Moon right now. After the grossness that was Giles lecture, Cordy had been jumping at every perceived sight and sound since she\u2019d left his house.<\/span><\/p>\n

She\u2019d never missed them as much as she did right now. \u201cI\u2019m good. Milan, huh? I\u2019m so beyond envious right now.\u201d She plastered a smile on her face as if; by some weird phenomenon, he\u2019d be able to see it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYour mother wanted to pick up a few million outfits, and where better than here?\u201d He joked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHaha, well, don\u2019t let her bankrupt you, daddy \u2018cause I don\u2019t want you stuck over there forever\u2026 I miss you\u201d swallowing the unexpected lump in her throat. Things had always been oddly difficult between herself and her mother, what with her being so self-involved- Hello? Where do you think I<\/strong> got it from?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

But her dad\u2026 Although not as attentive as he\u2019d been when she was a small child, he was still approachable, and easy to be around. When he was<\/em> around, that is.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDitto. We\u2019ve booked the flights already, so we should be back in Sunnydale on Friday. What\u2019s that? Okay<\/em>\u2026 your mother sends her love. And she asked if you wanted her to grab you a few outfits?\u201d Who does she think I am, Willow?<\/em> She wondered tartly, before graciously declining the offer.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, I\u2019ll let her know.\u201d From the tone of his voice, she knew he was grinning. Most probably recalling the embarrassment had by all when her mother raided Cordy\u2019s closet a few years back. \u201cLook, I\u2019m going to hang up now. The signal is crappy in this store. Love you, princess. We\u2019ll see you Friday.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLove you too. Have fun. Bye Daddy.\u201d With a sigh, Cordy replaced the phone and suddenly realized that she hadn\u2019t even switched on the lights.<\/span><\/p>\n

After a mini debate with herself over either settling in front of the TV for an hour or heading to bed, she decided on the latter. Dead bolting the door and activating the alarm, Cordelia walked quickly up the curving staircase and headed to her room – making a mental note to lock her bedroom door.<\/span><\/p>\n

*****<\/span><\/p>\n

Sunnydale University. Lunchtime<\/strong> (Mon).<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Cordelia strolled into the library as if she owned it. Rupert Giles doubted that the young woman was even aware of the impact she made on the male students present as she gracefully made her way towards him.<\/span><\/p>\n

The newspaper he held hadn\u2019t prevented her from seeing him tucked away in a corner.<\/span><\/p>\n

He\u2019d witnessed a marked difference in her character over the past year – starting around the time of their Graduation. Although a definite softening of her rather\u2026 unique way of regarding everyone as lower than a bug to be stepped on, her tongue could still fluster him at times, so he felt a little uncertain when she pulled out a chair at his table.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

*<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Giles. What\u2019s up?\u201d She sat down after placing her heavy purse on the table-top with a relieved sigh. God, she seriously had to think about getting a backpack\u2026 only, eww. No, thanks. I\u2019d rather suffer.<\/em>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He looked up from his paper. “Umm, nothing much. Having a good day?”
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNot bad. It\u2019ll probably destroy my reputation if anyone ever heard me say it, but I actually enjoy the Humanities class.\u201d She\u2019d dropped her voice \u2013 just in case anyone beyond their table was in earshot.<\/span><\/p>\n

Giles smiled. \u201cIt simply shows you have a well-rounded view of the World. Nothing to be ashamed of.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTell that to Aura.\u201d Although her old friend had opted for a future including a rich husband and 2.1 kids, they still chatted occasionally. After the whole thing with Harmony-being-killed-by-a-vampire on Graduation day, it made you appreciate friends a lot more. Even if some reminded you of a time when you were just as shallow and stuck up as them.<\/span><\/p>\n

It was one of the reasons she treasured her blossoming friendship so much. \u201cI\u2019m meeting Tara here, then we\u2019re gonna decide what to do for lunch.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNot Pizza, I hope.\u201d The amount consumed of that particular foodstuff on research nights made him sometimes wonder how his young charges weren\u2019t leaning towards the plump side.<\/span><\/p>\n

“God, no” Cordy shuddered. “I don\u2019t want to end up looking like the elephant man”. Then her face lit up with a pleased grin. \u201cMakes a change, seeing you doing stuff like a normal person.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell\u2026\u201d A slight hint of color tinged his cheeks. \u201cI\u2019m checking for unusual incidents,\u201d flushing a little more when her eyes rolled. \u201cAnd since we\u2019re not having any luck on the sacrifice front, I\u2019m also going through the Missing Persons column,\u201d He frowned perturbed, \u201cwhich is disturbingly long.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHello? Monster Central here.\u201d And they had a zillion creepy cemeteries to prove it.\u00a0 \u201cYou so<\/em> need a hobby.\u201d Giles felt like a butterfly on a pin as she stared at him with a calculating gleam in her hazel eyes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere must be loads of normal stuff you could do. Healthier than sticking your nose in boring, smelly books all day. God knows what ancient germs are floating about in them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI promise to look into it when demons and vampires finally decide to stop trying to end the world, or kill us\u201d, Giles deadpanned.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cordy let out a deep, dramatic sigh. She literally felt her good mood being sucked away by his depressing- but valid comment.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHaving fun?\u201d Tara\u2019s cheerful voice broke into her maudlin thoughts.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sitting with Mister Doom \u2018n\u2019 Gloom here. What do you<\/em> think? \u2013 No offense,\u201d she added with a small grin at his disgruntled expression and Tara\u2019s stifled laugh.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNone taken. Good Afternoon, Tara.\u201d A faint smile touched his mouth before he primly adjusted his glasses and went back to his paper. As if hinting, he lifted it a little higher until his head was hidden.<\/span><\/p>\n

Back<\/a> \/Part 12<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Giles Home.\u00a0 (Sun evening.) Everyone had now draped themselves around his lounge, looking relaxed and happily sated after their much-needed food break. Glancing…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13398","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-to-be-continued-fic"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13398","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13398"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13398\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13456,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13398\/revisions\/13456"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13398"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13398"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13398"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}