You Never Know, Chapter 8

[maryperk73703]

Joyce finally meets Rich Chase.

Chapter 8

 

 

 

Ethan took the glass of whiskey in a gracious manner.  “You owe me one now, Ripper.”

 

 

 

“How so?”  Giles sat across from his old friend.  He too had a glass of whiskey.

 

 

 

“The Underwood woman has been removed from the playing board.”  Ethan took a sip of his drink.

 

 

 

Giles raised an eyebrow while he waited for Ethan to continue.  He knew his old friend had fewer qualms about killing than he or his Slayer did.

 

 

 

“Meers gave her to me as a good will offering.”  Ethan shifted in his seat while he observed Giles.  “I decided to keep her.”

 

 

 

“Why on earth would you want a willful bitch like Cecily Underwood?”

 

 

 

Ethan smirked.  “I’ve found that the willful ones make the best subs.”

 

 

 

Giles’ mouth quirked in a half-worried smile.  “She’s still a human.  I cannot condone…”

 

 

 

“Ripper,” Ethan interrupted.  “I probed her mind.  She willingly laid with Angelus.  Then, she willingly stripped off her clothes for Meers before she crawled on the floor into his parlor like the bitch she is.”

 

 

 

“I don’t know.  Maybe…”

 

 

 

“You worry too much, Ripper.”  Ethan shifted his hand onto the armrest of the chair.  “I have left her to Rogers and his lovely wife.  By the time I return to my estate, Underwood will be so thrilled to see me save her, she’ll do anything I want.”

 

 

 

Giles closed his eyes for a moment.  William and Elizabeth were better off without Cecily trying to break them up.  He opened his eyes, and he pinched the bridge of his nose.  “Fine, I owe you one.”

 

 

 

“Excellent.”  Ethan’s answering grin would have scared a shark.  “Now what about Meers?”

 

 

 

Giles let out a huff of air.  “Slippery pillock.  For a start Elizabeth and William are out burning down every one of his brothels.”

 

 

 

“Don’t you think he’ll notice something so obvious?”

 

 

 

“That’s the beauty of a Queen Slayer,” Giles chuckled.  “They dream, imagine, and think bigger than regular Slayers.”

 

 

 

Ethan eyed his friend.  “Now, I’m a little scared.”

 

 

 

“She’s not destroying just Meers’ brothels.  She’s hitting the vamp whorehouses too.  None of them are safe from her wrath tonight.”  Giles took a proud drink of his whiskey.

 

 

 

“Bloody hell, I see what you mean.”  Ethan shook his head.  “What will the repercussions of such an action be?”

 

 

 

“We’re hoping that word will spread that such behavior is not tolerated here.”  Giles tapped the lip of his drink glass.  “We need to show all the demons who exactly it is that controls the Hellmouth.”

 

 

 

“And the humans?”

 

 

 

Giles shrugged.  “They’re mostly oblivious.  Those who do know will comply or leave.”

 

 

 

Ethan studied Giles.  “Who exactly is that statement aimed at?  Come on, Ripper, tell me.  I have no qualms about rifling though your mind to find out if you are reluctant to share.”

 

 

 

“The Mayor and his new ally Trick, of course.”

 

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

 

 

 

Elizabeth and William watched while the building that housed the vamp whorehouse burned.  They’d already hit two other vamp brothels and the three owned by Warren Meers.

 

 

 

“You know prostitution can’t be stamped out, dontcha?” William asked in a quiet voice.  “It’s not known as the world’s oldest profession for nothin’.”

 

 

 

“I know, but it’ll send a message to certain people,” Elizabeth replied.

 

 

 

“Warren Meers and who else?”

 

 

 

“I went to visit our old pal Willy while you were sleeping.”  Elizabeth turned her back on the fire.

 

 

 

William raised an eyebrow.  “What did Willy boy have to say?”

 

 

 

“The Mayor’s planning something big.  It’s far beyond hooking up with that vamp gunning for Gunn,” Elizabeth snickered before she became serious again.  “Plus the Mayor was boinking little miss unicorn vamp.”

 

 

 

William shuddered.  Stepping inside the now burning brothel was every heterosexual male’s worst nightmare.  There were unicorns everywhere; paintings, sculptures, and even the wallpaper had unicorns on it.  William wondered how the hell the vamp madam enticed any clientele to stay after they saw the décor. 

 

 

 

“The Mayor needs to know that he’s not the one who runs this town,” Elizabeth continued.  “No matter how ancient the old fart is.”  She wrinkled her nose in distaste.

 

 

 

William chuckled.  “You’re one of a kind, pet.”  He pulled Elizabeth close, and he pressed a kiss to her temple.

 

 

 

Elizabeth leaned into William’s side.  “We need to get home to get ready for mom’s party.”

 

 

 

“Just as long as you realize I want no part of your matchmakin’ plans!”

 

 

 

“Aw, don’t spoil my fun, baby.  You want to see Mom as happy as I do.”  Elizabeth laughed when William rolled his eyes.

 

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

 

 

 

JOYCE’S GALLERY PARTY

 

 

 

Elizabeth stood next to William listening to an artist by the name of Parker Abrams prattle on about what inspired his muse.  He acted like he was a sensitive soul, but the Slayer long ago decided he was just a player.

 

 

 

Elizabeth sniffed the air.  It took all of her skill not to wrinkle her nose.  I wish I could get rid of the smoky smell stuck in my nose.

 

 

 

“What’s wrong?”  William leaned in to whisper in Elizabeth’s ear.

 

 

 

Elizabeth whispered in return.  “I can still smell smoke.”

 

 

 

“Smoke?”  Parker looked around in terror.  “Is there a fire?”

 

 

 

Joyce joined the small group.  She laid a hand on Parker’s arm.  “Not here, but on our way here we saw the smoke of several fires.  It was quite thick.  My Elizabeth is sensitive to smoke.”

 

 

 

Elizabeth swallowed a snort.  Lucky for her, Parker didn’t notice because he was too busy speaking.

 

 

 

“You poor dear,” Parker cooed.  “My Riley is the same way.”

 

 

 

“Is Riley the inspiration behind ‘Man and His Pony’?” Joyce asked.  She indicated a sculpture of two men, one with a whip and the other wore a saddle and bridle.

 

 

 

Parker clapped with joy.  “Oh yes!  My Riley makes a beautiful pony.”  He allowed Joyce to lead him away.

 

 

 

Elizabeth stared at the statue in question.  She shook her head before she quite honestly asked, “What is the appeal in pony play?”

 

 

 

William shrugged.  “No bloody clue, luv.”  He glanced towards the doorway.  “There’s the cheerleader and dogboy.”

 

 

 

Elizabeth’s face broke into a grin.  “Let the matchmaking begin.”  She rubbed her hands together.

 

 

 

Cordelia waved at William and Elizabeth when she saw them.  She took Oz’s hand, and she guided him towards their friends.

 

 

 

“Glad you could make it.”  Elizabeth hugged Cordelia while William and Oz shook hands.  “Where’s your father?”

 

 

 

“He’s talking to the cloak room attendant.”  Cordelia shrugged.  “It seems they were business acquaintances once upon a time.”

 

 

 

Oz looked around.  “Where’s your father, Giles?” he asked William.

 

 

 

“It seems Willow and Tara have a few more weeks at their covenant retreat,” Elizabeth answered for her fiancé.  “Giles and Anya are doing inventory at the Magic Box.”

 

 

 

“Anya’s grumpy about it, but I’m sure she’ll make Father pay in some way,” William said with a chuckle.  “She very much wanted to see Joyce hook up with Rich.”

 

 

 

“I’m going to check on Father.”  Cordelia peered towards the entryway.  “Elizabeth, go get your Mother.”

 

 

 

The two young ladies separated to find their parents, leaving their husbands to be alone.

 

 

 

“Heard about the fires on the way here.”  Oz glanced around.  “Your handiwork?”

 

 

 

William shrugged.  “You know the Slayer.  ‘Fire bad, tree pretty’.”

 

 

 

“Fire fun, tree pretty is more like it,” Oz grunted.

 

 

 

Elizabeth and Cordelia arrived with their parents in tow.  There was an awkward moment until Cordelia jumped in with both feet.

 

 

 

“Father, this is Joyce Summers, her daughter Elizabeth, and Elizabeth’s fiancé William.”  The brunette started the introductions.  “Guys, this is my father, Rich Chase.”

 

 

 

Rich nodded his own greeting to William before he bowed over first Elizabeth’s hand and then Joyce’s.  “Charmed,” he whispered as he gazed up into Mrs. Summers’ hazel eyes.

 

 

 

Joyce blushed when tingles shot up her arm, down her spine, and curled up in her in lower stomach.  “”W-would you like a p-personal tour?” she stammered.

 

 

 

“I would be delighted.”  Rich tucked Joyce’s hand into his elbow, and he led her towards some paintings that caught his eye.

 

 

 

“So far, so good.”  Elizabeth showed her crossed fingers to Cordelia.  “Mother is definitely interested.”

 

 

 

“So is Father.”  Cordelia glanced at the older couple.

 

 

 

“Before we mingle there’s a Scooby meeting tomorrow at Anya’s store.” Elizabeth bit her lip.  “I just hope Gunn doesn’t do anything stupid before we come up with a plan.”

 

 

 

“Stupid how?”  Cordelia’s curiosity was genuine.

 

 

 

“Like searching out his vamped sister.”

 

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

 

 

 

“Where’s your little sweetie?”  Wilkins peered past Trick into the outer office.

 

 

 

“Bitch got defiant,” Trick said with a sneer.  “I had to show her who her master is.”

 

 

 

Wilkins gestured to the chair across the desk from his own seat.  “I suppose you’ve heard the bad news?”

 

 

 

Trick tilted his head to indicate that he had heard about the brothels burning down.  “Bad news for all.  Brothels keep the whores off the streets.”

 

 

 

“The vamps are all dust including the incomparable Harmony.”  Wilkins sat back and steepled his fingers in front of his chest.  “The human whores all received a one way ticket out of town.”

 

 

 

“They’ll be back,” Trick replied.  “Their kind always are.”

 

 

 

“Now down to business,” Wilkins said.  “We need the Slayer gone.”

 

 

 

“I’ll kill her.”

 

 

 

Wilkins shook his head.  “That won’t be easy.  We need an advantage.”

 

 

 

Trick thought for a moment.  “Bait?”

 

 

 

“That just might work.”  Wilkins pressed the call button for his secretary.  “Honey, bring me the Summers file.”

 

 

 

Within moments, the secretary delivered a folder to the Mayor.  Wilkins opened the file to study the papers.  After a few moments, he tapped a page.  “Dawn Marie Summers, the Slayer’s little sister.  She’s the perfect bait.”

 

 

 

Trick raised an eyebrow.  “You have a picture?”

 

 

 

“Right here.”  Wilkins handed over the photograph.

 

 

 

“Perfect.”  Trick studied the girl’s features.  “I’ll make a plan.  The Slayer will die.”

 

 

 

“See that she does.”

 

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

 

 

 

Robin Wood and Charles Gunn crept up to the vampire Trick’s lair.  They had seen him leave earlier, sans Alonna.  Robin carried a syringe of knockout drug guaranteed to sedate vampires.  Gunn carried a tarp under one arm.

 

 

 

Robin knocked on the door.

 

 

 

“Just a minute,” a raspy voice called out.

 

 

 

A few moments later the door inched open, and Alonna peered out the crack.  She’d heard the heartbeats of her visitors.  It made her wonder who the hell it could be. 

 

 

 

Gunn gasped when he saw the damage on his sister’s face.  Vampire or not, no one deserved that kind of treatment.  “What the fuck has that beast done to you, Lonnie,” he growled.