Lambs to the Slaughter: Eliza

[Logan]

The lobby door was still hanging open where it had been forced by the demons, the lock smashed, the hinge partially wretched from the frame. Inside an electric bulb was swinging chaotically on its wire. The result of the flickering bulb illuminated the room for a few seconds only for it to fade into complete darkness the next. He glanced back to the car where he had asked Eliza to wait for his signal.

Logan stepped into the opening, as the light stopped spinning the room stayed illuminated. He squinted to focus his eyes. The lobby was small: a mailbox, marked with the surnames and numbers for each apartment, a garbage can and a stairwell that led to the floors above. The decor was plain and outdated. White walls with aqua tiles on the floor, it was dusty, badly maintained. Not the kind of place you would imagine a Doctor would inhabit.

He walked to the mailbox scanning the details; he was looking for a Doctor Chetty. The mailboxes looked like they were about to burst open, jammed full of parcels and letters. He scanned each column until he found it. Dr Pari Chetty, Appt. 11. Logan quickly counted off the apartments in his head. By his calculation it would be the third floor. He raced up the stairs taking them two, maybe three at a time to get to the apartment. He hadn’t misjudged it, the door had been opened in a way similar to the door in the foyer. Any hope he had of helping the good doctor had vanished as he cautiously edged into the house.

It was one of the most disturbing sites he had ever seen, certainly the most since he was granted his soul. Surrounded by grandiose works of art, cases full of books and a chandelier that was the room’s centrepiece Dr. Chetty was sitting still. Her body looked relaxed as her feet were firmly pressed n the ground, her arms lay flat by her sides, the only thing missing was a head.

The head was resting by her feet, the eyes had been gouged out and sewn up, as was her mouth and ears. By the smell of her blood the sewing had taken place when she was still alive as the blood from her neck had not yet clotted. He examined the room once again now noticing the chalk pentagram the floor.

Third demon ritual this week, third time he hadn’t got to the scene in enough time. News that the slayer was gone had spread quickly, he felt as if he was the cities last defender along with his partner Eliza the two had been working almost constantly to try and deal with the growing demon situation. He examined the crime scene once again as he tried to figure out what had gone on, he grabbed his Cell phone from his pocket and dialled Eliza’s number and brought the phone to his ear, he spoke directly, “Eliza, I need to you here now. Apartment eleven”[/color] he ended the call before she could respond as he began to examine the other rooms.

He also noticed that there had been no clear escape from the apartment, no smashed windows, the scent ended in the room. Maybe they had teleported away but the more likely scenario was that the culprit was still in the apartment, he was going to need her back up.[/size]

[Elizabeth Rhoslyn Vatican]

Sitting in the car wasn't her idea of a great time but Logan was the leader in their little group and so she listened to what he told her mosto f the time. Besides it was better to stick together and get along since things were kind of out of control in Miami. Word had quickly spread that the slayer was down for the count causing the amount of demonic activity to take a sharp turn for the worse. Logan and her had been working day and night, barely sleeping at all, to attempt and keep things under control but it was practically impossible. They had all hoped that a new slayer would arise or that the old once would awake by some miracle but it hadn't happened. Things were getting worse and worse without the hope of getting any better.

The other night she had run into Owen and felt different while fighting some vampires but she hadn't brought it up to Logan, not having time to due to their busy schedules. It was rare that they ever talked and even rarer that they had time to just sit and do such. Things had been oddly different with her though ever since that last encounter and she still hadn't figured out why. Now her and Logan were on a mission trying to stop some demons they had been tracking. The demons had lead them to this apartment complex and straight to a female doctor that Eliza had never heard of before. She was awaiting a call from Logan before ascending into the building after him.

It wasn't long before she got the call she was waiting for and without saying anything back to him before he hung up she got out of the car and hurried into the building watching her back as she went. It took her only a few minutes to reach the opening to the apartment and what she saw was no good. The doctor was dead, they were too late. Logan was standing in the apartment looking at the body. They still here? she questioned him very quietly moving closer to him. She was ready to fight if the culprits were still here and she hoped they were because then at least they could get some vengence for the good doctors death. She hated seeing people get hurt and killed by the demonic creatures but hated not being able to avenge their deaths even more.

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[Logan]

Logan nodded his head silently as Eliza walked in. In the few weeks they had been working together he had noticed a vast improvement all round in her skills. Although they had been working ungodly hours it was almost as if her reflexes and skills were improving with each fight the duo seemed to be getting into. There was a simple explanation for this, one that Logan had been keeping from her for the past fortnight. Eliza had been called as the slayer, he didn’t have any proof but it was becoming increasingly obvious to him. Maybe if Eliza got a few more hours sleep she would start having the slayer dreams.

He looked to her, his facial expression was as annoyed as ever. He had gotten worse since Gemma’s death, he was there when it happened and was unable to save the Slayer. ”They haven’t left the building, but I can’t smell them, or see them.”[/color] he said stoically ”I don’t know what we’re dealing with. I don’t know a demon that has to burst in through a door but can just as easily become completely untraceable.” he says folding his arms and walking into the kitchen inspecting the window.

He is unaware of the chameleon-like demon that clung effortlessly to the chandelier. It moved almost like an assassin, silently across the ceiling whilst perfectly camouflaged. It made a sound not unlike a rattlesnake as it suddenly burst into sight once more. Its tongue shot out like a bullet wrapping around Logan's neck as it tossed him clean across the apartment. The demon leapt back into the air and vanished once more. “Close the door!”[/color] he shouted through a damaged throat as he climbed to his feet again. he tried to look for the demon but it was perfectly camouflaged on the ceiling the only sign it was about to attack was the rattle. “Use your ears.”[/color] he spoke gruffly to Eliza, not even making eye contact with her as he stood his ground, ready for another attack.
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[Elizabeth Rhoslyn Vatican]

It had been obvious to Eliza that since the demise of the slayer Logan had grown more distant and angry. It was very rare that he was ever in anything close to a good mood. It had been wearing on their relationship because Eliza could no longer really talk to Logan. Before he had been a really nice and helpful guy but now he was quiet and didn't really ever look at her or talk to her. Now they were yet again trapped in another situation involving a demon that they had no idea what or where it was. This was not her idea of a great time, but it was something she had to do.

When the demon finally did show itself she realized they had bitten off more than they could chew. The demon was some sort of camoflauging demon and could hide itself anywhere it wanted to. Not good. Eliza was about to jump to Logan's aid when the demon disappeared again and Logan hollered some orders at her. Rushing to do as he said she slammed the door shut and stopped in her place listening closely to see where the demon was or might be.

It was only about two minutes after its initial attack that it struck again, this time she heard it but a second to late as its tounge wrapped around her waist and threw her against the wall with a thud. The wall cracked underneath impact of her body but she was on her feet pretty quickly afterwards. Not soon enough though because when she stood back up the demon was goon again. Trying to listen more closely she recognized the sound of a slight pitter patter as the demon moved about the ceiling, it was moving towards Logan Move, now! she said in a harsh lowered voice as the demon struck out at him.

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[Logan]

Logan watched as Eliza was too thrown around by the demon. He was able to examine it, it wasn’t something that was in any way humanised. The demon was clearly of another reality. He watched it move, completely feral, no doubt a member of a demon tribe, alone and afraid of the place he had found itself it. The demon who had been performing the rituals had escaped, not without leaving something behind in his wake. He witnessed Eliza recover from the attack quickly the impact would have knocked her out a few weeks ago yet now she was on her feet almost instantly.

He followed her command and leapt to the side as the demon’s tongue shot out and slammed into the wall he shot his hand out
it was moving towards Logan Move, now! she said in a harsh lowered voice as the demon struck out at him. the tongue made a huge impact with the wall causing the photos on it to drop to the ground. He leapt forward and grabbed onto the appendage ant pulled at it violently as the demon crashed to the floor.

Logan still holding onto the tongue walked towards the demon and viciously booted in the chest, the demon skidded across the ground. His fighting style had changed, before he was happy to get a fight over with but it was almost like he enjoyed inflicting pain on the demons he fought. But he was caught off guard as the tongue suddenly retracted, he felt himself dragged from his feet and catapulted him through the apartment’s window. He fell three stories to the ground, landing on his chest. He slowly picked himself up, he leapt from the street to the buildings fire escape and began to climb it. He prayed he would get to Eliza before the demon killed her.

[Elizabeth Rhoslyn Vatican]

Eliza thought for a moment that it was all over once Logan got ahold of the demons tounge but her thoughts were soon proven to be wrong. The demon used its tounge to pull Logan across the room and fling him into the air causing him to crash through a window and fall to the ground. As he disappeared from sight so did the demon for about the millionth time. Eliza just wanted to find this thing and kill it, she didn't enjoy playing games with creatures of the demonic varity. Plus now she was alone in the room with the disappearing demon and had no idea if Logan was alright.

Closing her eyes she stood in the dead center of the room and slowed her breathing to try and listen for the demon as best she could. It was, at this point, not moving at all. It had probably realized that she was using the sound it made to track it. But it would have to move eventually because soon its instinct and drive to kill her would overwhelm its thoughts. Still standing perfectly still she listened to silence until finally she heard that same pitter patter sound she had heard right before Logan had been attacked.

Her eyes still closed to followed the sound around the room with her body, making a complete 180 degree turn as the demon reappeared and sliced the air between it and her with its tounge. When the tounge was only two feet from her neck she reached out with a hand and snatched it from the air. The demon let out a squeel of surprise and tried to pull it from her, as it did so she reached down with her free hand and grabbed a dagger from inside her waistband. As the demon pulled her closer to it she readied the dagger not knowign exactly where to strike it.

When she was within in reaching distance she sliced with the dagger and cut the thing across the throat. It let out a horrid scream and before it could run and disappear again she sliced across its face taking out its eyes in the process. Still holding its tounge the demon tried to fling her across the room and as she was sailing through the air she used once last swing to cut right through the tounge. The demon screamed again and disappeared as Eliza slammed into the wall, the tounge dropping to the ground unmoving.

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[Logan]

Logan gracefully scaled the fire escape with the grace of a gymnast as he approached the window, he reached the window and stopped. He balanced on the metal frame and watched her as she stood in the centre of the room. He wondered what she was doing; he couldn’t keep his eyes off of her. Had she given up? Why wasn’t she running? He wanted to rush in and save her but he had to know for sure. The slayer could handle this, a normal girl couldn’t.

What happened next occurred in slow motion for Logan. He watched as she kept her eyes shut and the demon appeared behind her, she moved swiftly and was able to grab the tongue just as he had, the demon began to pull her close as Logan leapt through the window but he wasn’t needed, with the refinement and talent of a seasoned pro she sliced the demon’s throat with one clean slice.

The demon blinked in and out of vision but the blood spilling from its wound was a clear sign of where it stood. Logan watched as she blinded the beast before finally severing its tongue from its body. He watched in awe as she slammed the beast into the wall as it slowly bled out, its feral screams slowly dying out. He stood by the smashed window, completely still.

He knew for sure now, she was the slayer; she had improved so dramatically that he couldn’t deny it anymore. He looked from the demon to the girl, it was clear from his concerned facial expression something was wrong. “You did well.”[/color] he said, his monotone voice didn’t show any emotion as he walked to the door. ”The police will be here soon. We can’t be seen.[/color]
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[Elizabeth Rhoslyn Vatican]

The reappearance of Logan didn't even strike her until the demon was dead and gone. That was when she realized that he had been in the room, for how long she did know, but it relieved her to know that he was ok. Of course there hadn't been much reason for her to worry considering he was a vampire and could survive things that most others could not, like being flung from a building. It surprised her that he hadn't jumed in and helped her out but she realized that she hadn't needed the help...why hadn't she needed the help? She was just a girl, a human girl, wasn't she? There were so many questions that needed answers now.

When Logan approached her the thing that came from his mouth and his expression proved to her that he had been testing her, at least sort of. Whether the test had been planned or not she didn't know. But why had he cared? What did he need to know? Everything was so smudged together and blurry to her right now, nothing made sense anymore. The world was no longer in balance or so it felt. It was even more annoying because she didn't know why. But following his lead she walked towards the door. This was going to a bad scene when the police showed up, they wouldn't know what to make of all the blood and disaster. But the police in Miami were good at covering things up and not asking questions that they knew couldn't be answered.

Following behind him silently all the way to the car she opened her door and slid into her seat. Things were different, she could tell. They had been for a while but she hadn't known what to think of it. She had figured Logan was just weird because of Gemma dieing, but it had to be more than that. He had been treating her different, keeping tabs on her more than before and acting more protective. It was time she learned the truth. When he got in the car she uttered only one quiet but audible sentence Talk to me.

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[Logan]

The walk to the car was long and awkward, the two didn’t say a word, he didn’t know what to say. Some act of god had turned Eliza into the slayer. The millions of girls in the world who could have been selected were ignored and Eliza had been selected. He wondered what part destiny played in the situation, was there something happening in Miami that had meant the Powers that Be needed a Slayer in the city? He didn’t know. All he knew was that she had been selected. He turned on the ignition and the engine growled softly as Eliza spoke softly.

”His did you feel in there?”[/color] He asked her, his voice was clear over the engine as the car stayed parked by the sidewalk. Their relationship had been turbulent to say the least yet over the past month they had become a team, ”Because watching you, everything’s changed. The way you stand, the way you hold a weapon it’s just.”[/color] He stopped himself from blurting it out as their eyes met again.
She was so young, she had lived a hard life but she was still a young girl. “I think when Gemma was attacked, before the werewolf was able to help us escape her heart stopped. We resuscitated her but the damage was done.”[/color] he declared “The watcher’s council have been exploring the world, they think a girl in Botswana has been called but I think that maybe the powers need somebody in Miami.”[/color] he says still looking at her in the eyes.

”What you did in there, it was, just phenomenal. No girl could do that, you saw how easily it threw me out of that window like I was a ragdoll or something.” He couldn’t bring himself to tell her she was the slayer, if he said the words they would be real.
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[Elizabeth Rhoslyn Vatican]

As Logan spoke it was almost like her whole world was crashing down. Like everything she had ever known was suddenly not the truth anymore. The sound of his voice was muffled as her mind tried to block out what he was telling her, what he was showing her. It was like she was trying to listen to talk but she was underwater. His mouth moved but the words didn't make sense to her, she didn't want them to make sense. Everything her entire life had ever been aimed towards was crashing down on her. Everything SAEB had wanted from her was now happening, only about four years too late.

No, I can't be. There's gotta be some mistake. I mean I know I've been improving a lot but... her voice cracked and she rested her face in her hands. This couldn't be true, but it was and she needed to force herself to believe it, to embrace it. Everything SAEB every trained me for, this was supposed to be my destiny, at least they hoped it be. But I never thought it would, not me she said in a broken and hesitant voice. He didn't need to say it, it was right there in front of their eyes. They both knew the truth, understood it. But neither was accepting it completely.

This changes...everything she mumbled and looked up at him through watery eyes. She was scared, deep down she was absolutely terrified. Despite the best training she could have ever hoped to have at a young age she wasn't ready for this. Physically she was ready but mentally it was a lot to handle at all once. What's gonna happen now? she questioned looking to him to lead her. But that couldn't be the case anymore, he couldn't lead her, she was the leader now. She was one that people would turn to when actions needed to be taken. The weight of the world was on her shoulders.

I can't do this, I'm sorry she whispered almost to quietly to hear and reached for her door handle getting out of the car quickly and walking a few steps away. It was hard for her to cope with all of this, she needed to go somewhere or do something.

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[Logan]

Logan nodded his head, his solemn facial expression still apparent on his face, he slowly turned the key, ending the ignition. A police siren was audible in the distance it was silent to the human ear but his enhanced hearing was making it clear, they had a few moments before they would have to make a run for it, but she was upset, maybe it would take more than a few moments. ”You don’t have to do anything, not right now.”[/color] he said with a nod of the head. ”You may feel like you’ve lost control but you haven’t. You’ve got more choice than any previous slayer.”[/color] He told her putting his cold vampires hand onto her shoulder.

He watched as tears streamed form her eyes and she escaped from the car. He climbed out behind her and chased her down the street, he gripped her arm tightly and spun her around on her heels. “Eliza stop, this isn’t out of your hands. You get to chose what happens next. The Watcher’s council are on a wild goose chase, this city is on the verge of collapse and you’re the ace up the sleeve we need.” he tells her with conviction, “You get to chose where you go next. Ether we keep working together, or I make some calls and the Council send somebody out and they train you.” he said holding her tightly.

He could see she was distressed, the responsibility of being the slayer was a lot for anybody to handle, yet she had been raised with the intention of being the slayer, yet she had come to terms with the fact she was never going to be called. Fate could be cruel that way. “You need to make a choice, but not tonight. Tonight you need to sleep and we need to get out of here.”[/color] [/size]

[Elizabeth Rhoslyn Vatican]

When he caught up to her outside of the car and grabbed her arm she stopped and spun around to look at him her face streaked with tears. My entire life was aimed towards this, everything I was meant to be is exactly what I am right now. But that doesn't change that fact that it makes things a lot harder she replied in a slightly distressed tone. It was hard for her to hold her tounge and not bring back the memory of Gemma, but it was real and it was there. That could happen to her, one wrong move, one wrong fight and she could be dead. It was that simple.

Life for normal humans was of course dangerous day to day and they could die at any moment as well but at least they didn't have a target plastered on their back for every evil being in the world to see. Being the slayer wasn't exactly a cup of tea. Especially because you couldn't decide if it was what you wanted, you didn't get to choose whether or not you became the slayer, it chose you. I mean part of me knows knows that this is a good thing, that I know what to do and always have, that I was raised for this very moment. But at the same time it isn't that easy to swallow. She knew that what she said next would hurt Logan but she couldn't stop her mouth from speaking it Becoming the slayer is like getting your death sentence. My days are numbered, what happened to Gemma could easily happen to me. I got used to my life as it was, I accepted that I wasn't the chosen one and I learned to live. So what do I have to do now? Learn to die, or at the very least accept death as a probable outcome her voice was hard but tears still fell down her cheeks.

I won't abandon you, I want to help you and continue to work by your side but I need some time to understand what this means for me. You are right, I need time to make a choice. I don't want you to call back the slayer's council though, I want some time to figure things out on my own before that happens she added as she turned and walked back to the car climbing back into her seat, letting the reality sink in. Logan was right though, they needed to get out of here.

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[Logan]

Logan was baffled by her opinion, he couldn’t find the words to put her at ease, none existed. He had never heard of a slayer who had lived past the age of twenty five, few survived to the age of twenty one, the fate Gemma received was worse than death, especially for her friends and family. He had encountered a young slayer in Russia who was only sixteen when she was killed and the two slayers he killed himself were only teenagers. He brought her closer to stop her crying as he wrapped her arm around her, with his free hand he wipes the tears from her cheek with a soft stroke of the thumb.

”I won’t let what happened to Gemma happen to you.”[/color] he tells her as she walks back to the car. He watches her as she walks; he bites his lower lip as the siren’s approach. He walked a few paces behind her, she didn’t have to say anything but he knew their time together was coming to an end, and he knew it was for the best. A slayer and a vampire couldn’t work closely together. He nodded his head about the Watcher’s council getting involved; He didn’t have the fondest of memories of them and knew they would over complicate things.

”Whatever you chose to do, I’ll support your decision.”[/color] he said climbing into the car and pulling away before the police cars arrive. The drive was silent again, but this time it wasn’t awkward, he was giving her time to make up her mind.[/size]

[Elizabeth Rhoslyn Vatican]

His affectionate touches did little to ease her distress but it did create a feeling in her that she had never felt the likes of before. Being raised the way she was she didn't understand many of the emotions that someone that had been raised and loved by a family should feel. Love, caring, things like that were foreign to her. She knew that she cared about other people and their safety but she had never had feelings for someone of any sort. It was hard for her to understand the things that her mind and body were trying to tell her.

The car ride was extremely long, or so it felt because neither one of them said a single word. She knew that Logan was just letting her process everything and come to some sort of decision. By the time they arrived at his office building which also housed her apartment and his home she knew that she had to do what was right and expected of her. Which meant she had to take on her responsibility and follow her new destiny. I'm gonna have to leave aren't I? I can't stay here anymore she said as a sort of question but also has a statement. It would be too hard for her to try and work as a part of Logan's group and lead her own as well. She knew the deal, the slayer usually worked alone and didn't have close friends. The easiest way to get to a slayer was through her friends and family, but luckily she didn't have any family and her closest friend was a vampire.

As they pulled into the parking spot she didn't reach for her door handle. She didn't want to leave, even though she didn't have to right this second she knew it was coming soon enough. Leaving was not something wanted to do, she had gotten used to living here above Logan's office and she had gotten used to being able to go to him whenever she had problem. Things were going to be a lot different when they were no longer living so close to each other. But really the thing was that she didn't want to leave Logan himself, he had become someone she was really starting to care about. Care about in that way that she didn't really understand.

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[Logan]

Logan pulled up their building, parking the car a few feet from the door. The office was closed but the neon light in the window continued to illuminate the window and half of the street. He turned off the ignition and sat in silence as her question reverberated though him. They couldn’t work together, as a Slayer she was supposed to be alone. He at her and without any words he nodded his head.

She had to go.

It broke his heart a little but she couldn’t stay with him anymore. Purely for strategic reasons. If they were to be attacked at home again both the slayer and the vampire with a soul would be killed in one blow. Both forces needed to be individuals in order to make the most impact on Miami.

”You need to go back to school, I’ll forge a letter to explain your absence the past few days, you need some normality, you can’t be living with a vampire and a demon then spending your nights out fighting us,”[/color] he said with a heavy heart. But it was true, while Logan had lived a rich full life, Eliza was the slayer, and now her time was running low, she needed to live as much of a life as humanly possible. ”If you need anything, and I really mean anything. I’m here, so is Owen but let me be your first port of call. Ok?”[/color] he said his face unable to form the grin he wanted; he was as devastated as she was. [/size]