The Male Slayer - A Buffy The Vampire Slayer Fanfiction

III. Slave to the Master (Chapter 4)

Feeling the sun on his face, James squinted as he opened his eyes, raising his arm in front of his face to shield himself from the ray of light. Looking around as his eyesight came back into focus, he noticed that a number of flowers were surrounding him, all different colours and types, all in bloom and beautiful. 

"Am I back?" James thought to himself, sitting up and stretching, still feeling energetic since his encounter with Doyle only moments earlier. James picked himself up off of the ground and stood in what looked like a park; children running around laughing in the distance, people throwing frisbees to each other, and the noticeable sound of birds chirping. James closed his eyes again and inhaled deeply, absorbing the feeling of Spring in it's purest form. 

James opened his eyes and recognised the playground that the kids were playing in, he had seen it before. Trying to remember from where exactly, he remembered that Doyle had told him he would be in London, "I've seen this park from the Watchers Council Headquarters".

Suddenly, James' head begins to pound and ache violently, making him grab it in pain. Eventually the pain subsided and a new path opened in James' head. He knew where he had to go, the exact amount of steps and which direction; everything. 

James headed out of the park and walked along the streets of London, passing the many pedestrians going about their daily business, heading to and from work or school. James didn't recognise these streets but pressed on regardless, until he reached a nice little quiet street, bungalows lining either side of the road. James walked up to the bungalow that his head led him to, realising that this was Julie's. James stopped and began to walk away from the residence.

"Where are you going?" Doyle asked him, appearing in front of James. 

"Doyle? You-you're here?" James was shocked by Doyle's sudden appearance, figuring that there would be little to no actual communication between the two. 

"I told you I'd be here with you every step of the way, and the first step is to walk up to that door and knock on it." Doyle said, pointing to Julie's bungalow. 

"What if things have changed? Maybe she won't welcome me back with open arms and push me away instead?" James looked back at the bungalow, doubt creeping into his mind.

"Look," Doyle started, placing his hands on James' shoulders, "do you trust the Powers That Be?" 

"Of course I do." James responded, after everything he had been through, the Powers That Be had proven themselves more than trustworthy over the fate of the world. 

"Then you should trust me when I say that everything will be alright if you knock on that door." Doyle told him reassuringly. 

James turned around and walked into the front gate, heading up the garden path and reached the front door, as slowly as he possibly could. He raised his hand to knock, but didn't. James looked down and took a deep breath, steadying himself. He then knocked on the door firmly before he could second guess himself again. James felt his heart jump as he knocked on the door, there was no going back now. 

"Hello?" Julie said as she opened the door, not expecting any visitors. 

"Hello, Julie." James said softly, observing her laid-back attire, not dressed as formally as she normally was. 

"Holy shit." Julie whispered under her breath, repulsively stepping back from the door and almost collapsing as she did so. 

"Whoa, watch yourself." James instinctively stepped forward to help her. 

"No! Stay back out there, don't come in here!" Julie shouted at James, unsure of what to feel or if James was even real. "What are you?" 

"Julie, let me explain." James started, stepping into the bungalow.