He was almost the colour of dust now, moving with silent steps through mist deadened cemeteries. It didn´t used to be this quiet. A long time ago he had shared the nights and days with the others. Now he walked alone with his slow methodical pace. There was no reason to hurry; the vampires toyed and tarried with their victims now that no Slayer existed to vex them.

A screech and pounding feet turned his step and hastened his heart; he moistened his pale, parched lips and trod toward the small gathering of undead with a mortal at its centre.

One by one the vamps quieted as no sound was heard around them, the girl they taunted also ceased to sob, clutching at her torn garments and tattered punctured limbs. Her boyfriend had proved poor protection against this new breed of Vampire.

They feared one human and that human approached.

A couple of them fled. Another three stepped back away from the body and let the largest of them alone with the man.

"Watcher…" the vampire growled. "My name is…" He didn´t have time to finish before his severed head hit the ground.

"Why do they always have to name themselves?" Giles muttered to himself, "As if I care who they are?" He turned at a step behind him and stabbed a stake into the chest of his attacker. "Really bad manners to sneak up on one like that…" he murmured softly. He watched the dust settle and then narrowed his eyes on the remaining single vamp; his friends had long since vanished. "Well? Do you want to join your friends?" He pointed his stake at the ground and when he jerked his head to the perimeter of the cemetery, he added, "…or your friends?"

The vampire smiled briefly and glanced over his shoulder, then gestured with his thumb away from the Watcher and left at high speed.

The Watcher put his weapons away and retrieved his first aid kit. He walked toward the frightened girl and draped a warm shawl round her shoulders. And then began dressing her wounds.

Once or twice, the girl dipped her head trying to see the face of her saviour, but the shadows wouldn´t let her see. She knew he was old because his hair was streaked with silver but he had one of those physiques that remained the same as it matured.

"Can you stand?" he held out his hand to steady her steps. She nodded and sniffed. He reached into his pocket and handed her a pristine white handkerchief. "Dry your tears and I´ll walk you home."

The girl walked beside him no longer scared of the night, surrounded, as she was by the aura of this kind brave man. She had forgotten about her boyfriend, lying bloodied and broken, back in the cemetery and on remembering she began to weep again, silent tears this time.

"Whatever´s the matter?" the kind, mellow voice inquired. She explained and he asked, "Did you see him drink?" She shook her head, "Then be thankful he won´t rise a vampire."

She stopped suddenly pulling on his elbow, "A vampire? Wh–who are you?"

"Yes, vampire´s do exist. But your friend won´t become one." He hesitated, wondering why he hadn´t introduced himself before. "My name is Rupert Giles, I´m a Watcher." He quietly said letting go of her hand and watching her as she limped to her door. He smiled as she turned and waved before closing the door. He sighed and waited a few heartbeats before raising his hand and whispering, “Forget”.

End of part one.

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