do it when I turn eighteen, which is still not for two years. So, yeah, that trial’s out. No point in even scheduling. And since we’re talking about it, I never technically agreed to be a Slayer? Or said I’d train as one. We should stop and think if this is really the best option for everyone.” For me. “I mean, we’ve never even tried to find any of the other Slayers. Maybe we should do that before jumping on the yay-Nina-kills-things-now bandwagon, which is a pretty bad bandwagon as far as bandwagons go.”
Leo looks engaged for the first time this whole conversation. Before, his face had been blank. Now he looks anxious. Eager, even. “Athena has a point. There are so many Slayers now. We can’t ask her to do something she doesn’t want to—”
“We aren’t asking her,” Eve says, interrupting him. “And we’re not commanding you either, Nina. But training or not, you are a Slayer. And that is something wonderful and I’m sure more than a little overwhelming and terrifying. But you can’t change it by ignoring it. To do so would be irresponsible. Dangerous, even.”
I flinch, remembering Artemis’s comment about a loaded gun in the hands of a child. Leo is staring at me. He gives me an almost imperceptible shake of his head. It’s clear he disagrees with his mother. Which makes me want to listen to her more.
Eve closes the distance between us, putting her hands on my shoulders. “You’ve always had so much to offer the Watchers, but you’ve never truly been utilized here, never truly had a place among us. This is a tremendous opportunity for us to learn from you. It’s time to take your rightful spot alongside the Council. Where your father would have wanted you.”
I still don’t want to be a Slayer, but the way Eve is looking at me with hope and warmth melts away some of my fear. Would my father have wanted this? “I guess—I guess we could try.”
Eve beams. “That’s our girl.” Then she releases my shoulders to take stock of what the room has to offer. “I assume you’ve had basic combat training?” Her assumption hurts, but it’s nice of her to give me the benefit of the doubt.
“I wasn’t allowed to. My mom said no. But I’ve read most of the manuals! And I, uh, know a lot of first aid. I’ve been working as the Watcher medic. I’m really good with stitches. And ice packs. Expert ice packer.”
She smiles, and there’s genuine delight there. No judgment or mockery. I’m so glad it’s her here instead of stupid Wanda Wyndam-Pryce. “That’s wonderful. I love that you have experience outside of the narrow focus a Potential would have been given. How is your demon lore?”
“The lore-iest! Super up on demon lore. Name a demon, I know the lore.” Actually, Rhys is the resident demon expert, but he likes to talk and I don’t mind listening. Most of my studies have been human oriented, but I do know more than the average Slayer. And I definitely know more than Buffy, who was notorious for being unwilling to do research or study on her own.
Rupert Giles always babied her. Now he’s dead too, just like my father. It’s usually Watchers who bury more than one Slayer. Buffy never did like the status quo, though.
“Tell me about D’Hoffryn,” Eve says. “What do you know about him?”
“Oh! I know this one!” I clap my hands, excited. I usually don’t get pumped about demony stuff, but Eve has this way about her that makes me yearn for her approval. Maybe because I feel like she actually cares, like she’s rooting for me. Leo’s eyes have moved from me to the door, and his hands are clasped behind his back. “D’Hoffryn is a true demon—not a hybrid. He has the ability to corrupt humans into vengeance demons. He has no known weaknesses. He comes to this plane only when summoned by a vengeance demon or drawn to a new candidate.” I pause, thinking. “But . . . with portals to and from demon dimensions closed, can he keep creating vengeance demons? I’m guessing he can’t! So that’s good. Score one for no magic.”
“Do you know whether he was on earth when the portals closed?”
I shrug, wishing I could impress her. “No idea.”
Bradford Smythe answers. “I believe he is trapped here. He’ll still have his basic demonic abilities but will be considerably handicapped by the lack of magic.”