The Witch and The Watcher - Discontinued

The Harvest: Part Four

Chapter Seven

The Harvest: 4

*Giles POV*

Willow and I were researching when I heard and thump coming from my office. I placed down the book I was holding and made my way to my office door. I lightly knocked on it and waited. I was startled when someone or something banged back louder

"Giles!" I heard Narcissa's beautiful voice called through the door. I fumbled with the key and unlocked the door letting them out

"My word, how did you get in there?" I frowned

"I smoked" Narcissa stated, her eyes sad as she sat in a chair beside Xander who also looked heartbroken

"Did you find Jesse?" Willow asked

"Yeah." Xander said sadly

"Was he dead?" Willow asked hesitantly

"Worse." Narcissa said as played with her necklace

"I'm sorry, Willow. We were too late. And they were waiting for us." Buffy said

"At least you three are okay." Willow tried to smiled but it fell Xander stood and angrily kicked a trash can making us jump "I don't like vampires. I'm gonna take a stand and say they're not good." Xander said

"So, Giles!" Buffy turned to me "Got anything that can make this day any worse?" I walked over to the whiteboard and put down my pen.

"How about the end of the world?" I asked

"Knew I could count on you." Buffy snarked I flushed when I caught Narcissa throw a glare at Buffy for her comment

"This is what we know. Some sixty years ago, a very old, very powerful vampire came to this shore, not just to feed." I said "He came 'cause this town's a mystical who's it." Buffy said "Yes." I nodded "The Spanish who first settled here called it 'Boca del Infierno'. Roughly translated, 'Hellmouth'. It's a sort of, um, portal between this reality and the next. This vampire hopes to open it."

"Bring the demons back." Narcissa nodded

"End of the world." Xander stated

"But he blew it!" Willow jumped in "Or, I mean, there was an earthquake that swallowed half the town, and him, too."

"You see, opening dimensional portals is a tricky business. Odds are he got himself stuck, rather like a, uh, cork in a bottle." I explained

"And this Harvest thing is to get him out." Xander concluded

"It comes once in a century, on this night. The Master can draw power from one of his minions while it feeds. Enough power to break free and open the portal. The minion is called the Vessel, and he bears this symbol." I drew a three-point star on the whiteboard

"So, I dust anyone sporting that symbol, and no Harvest." Buffy said

"Simply put, yes." I nodded

"Any idea where this little get-together is being held?" Buffy asked

"There, there are a number of possibilities." I took off my glasses and polished them

"They're goin' to the Bronze." Narcissa and Xander said

"Are you sure?" I asked

"Come on. All those tasty young morsels all over the place? Anyway, that's where Jesse's gonna be, trust me." Xander said I grabbed my coat and started out of the library, I heard the others follow

"Then we should get there. The sun will be down before long." I said

"I gotta make a stop. Won't take long." Buffy said