But there was thatsound.

That strange, disturbing sound as of something moving about in the apartment. A soft, stealthy sound, yet loud enough to rouse Buffy at last from her wonderful dream.

Her eyelids fluttered open.

As the axe slammed into her pillow, only inches from her neck, Buffy twisted herself away.

She leapt nimbly from the bed. From somewhere far back in her brain came the sudden realization that the second assassin had found her, and she stared defiantly into the woman's exotic eyes.

"You must be number two," Buffy challenged her, but Kendra again swung the axe.

Buffy dodged the razor-sharp blade. Kendra refused to give up.

"Thanks for the wake-up," Buffy taunted. "But I'll stick with my clock radio."

For the third time the axe started to come down-only Buffy caught Kendra's arm in midflight. To Buffy's distress, she couldn't seem to wrench the axe away-Kendra's strength was every bit as powerful as her own. The two of them were locked in a dead-even struggle, like an arm wrestling match between perfect twins. For a split second they met each other's eyes and felt an uncanny twinge of recognition.

Then Buffy took advantage of the moment. Kicking out, she sent the axe flying across the room. She swept Kendra's legs out from under her and watched as her opponent hit the floor.

But Buffy didn't expect Kendra to recover so quickly. To her surprise she felt her own legs being pinned, and in the next instant Buffy landed on the floor beside her.

Now the two of them wrestled furiously, rolling about on the floor. Kendra's blows were precise and well-aimed, but Buffy managed to elude them, one minute fighting on top of Kendra, the next minute struggling beneath her. Angel's apartment was in shambles. They smashed into his table, his bookshelf, his dresser . . .

Buffy was getting fed up.

"Come on," she warned Kendra. "Don't make me do the chick fight thing."

For a second, that seemed to confuse Kendra. Panting for breath, she gasped out, "Chick . . . fight?"

"You know-"

Buffy dug her fingernails into Kendra's hand. As Kendra cried out, Buffy jerked her violently by the hair and threw her off balance.Chick fight, she thought to herself.Have I sunk so low?

"Cliched," Buffy said aloud, "but effective."

But now both of them were on their feet again. They circled like animals, both gasping for breath.

Buffy steeled herself. She was ready for the final offensive. She glared furiously into Kendra's eyes and prepared to spring.

"Who are you?" Kendra suddenly asked.

Buffy froze. She stared in disbelief at the strange young woman.

"What do you mean who am I? Youattacked me. Who the hell areyou?"

Kendra glared back at Buffy. Proud and defiant to the very end.

"I am Kendra," she said. "The Vampire Slayer."

CHAPTER 12.

Buffy stared.

Kendra stared back.

The two of them continued to circle each other, fists raised and ready. For a long moment there was only the ragged sound of their breathing.

"Let's start again," Buffy said at last. "You're thewho?"

"I'm the Slayer," Kendra replied.

Buffy was speechless. The young woman across from her radiated poise and intensity. There was a faintly regal air about her. And it was way obvious she didn't take anything from anybody.

Still, the whole thing was totally ridiculous.

"Nice cover story," Buffy told her. "Here's a tip-try it on someone who's not thereal Slayer."

"You can't stop me," Kendra returned. "Even if you kill me, another Slayer will be sent to take my place."

Buffy was running out of patience. "Could you stop with the Slayer thing?I'm the damn Slayer!"

"Nonsense. There is but one-and I am she."

Again Buffy lapsed into silence, totally baffled by this turn of events. Kendra was so annoyingly earnest, she couldn't help but wonder . . .

"Okay," Buffy relented, almost reluctantly. "Scenario: I back off. You back off. You promise not to go all wiggy until we go to my Watcher and figure out what this is all about."

Kendra frowned. "Wiggy?"

"You know-no kicko, no fighto?"

Kendra paused, considering. Then she stood back, folding her arms across her chest. "I accept your scenario."

They still didn't trust each other. With suspicion and more than a little contempt in their eyes, they let down their guard at last, but each continued to silently assess the other.

At last Kendra said, "Your English is very odd, you know."

"Yeah, it's something about being woken by anaxe. Makes me talk all crazy." Buffy paused, then added, "So you were sent here?"

"Yes, by my Watcher."

"To do what, exactly?"

"To do my duty," Kendra informed her. "I am here to kill vampires."

Angel looked up at the window high on the wall of the storage area.

Sun was streaming through the barred glass, spilling light into the room.

He could hardly breathe now.

Buffy . . .

Huddled in a corner, he tried to draw into himself, tried to put even an inch more distance between himself and the morning.

He thought of Buffy. He wondered if she was safe; he cursed himself for his helplessness.

The sun angled across the floor, leaving him only a small patch of safety. With every passing minute, it crept closer.

Angel was sweating. His body was wracked with pain.

He closed his eyes and tried to envision the darkness.

CHAPTER 13.

Giles paced restlessly in front of Buffy and Kendra, trying to make sense of the situation.

"Your watcher is Sam Zabuto, you say?" he asked this new Slayer.

Buffy watched with interest. Kendra seemed strangely subdued in Giles's presence, almost subservient.

Even her voice held a touch of reverence as she answered his question.

"Yes, sir."

"We've never met," Giles went on, "but he is very well respected."

"What?" Buffy broke in. "So he's a real guy? As in, nonfictional?"

Giles ignored her. "What are you called?" he asked Kendra.

"I am the Vampire Slayer," Kendra replied.

Buffy sounded irked. "We got that part. He means your name."

"Oh." Kendra nodded. "They call me Kendra, only. I have no last name, sir."

Buffy rolled her eyes. "Can you say-stuck in the eighties?"

"Buffy, please." Giles frowned. "There has obviously been some kind of misunderstanding here."

Everyone turned as Willow came into the library. She stopped just inside the door and smiled.

"Hey-"

Before Willow could finish her sentence, Kendra advanced on her, ready to attack.

"Identify yourself!" Kendra ordered.

"Back off, Pink Ranger." Buffy's look was withering. "This is my friend."

"Friend?" Kendra demanded.

"You know. Person you hang with?Amigo?"

Kendra looked annoyed. "I-I don't understand."

Again Buffy rolled her eyes, turning this time to Giles. "You try. I'm tapped."

"Kendra," Giles said patiently. "There are a few people, civilians if you will, who know Buffy's identity.

Willow is one of them. And they also spend time together. Socially."

Kendra was taking all of this in. She understood what was being said, but she was still very much puzzled by the concept.

"And you allow this, sir?" she finally asked.

"Well," Giles stammered, "you see-"

"But the Slayer must work in secret," Kendra broke in. "For security-"

"Of course. With Buffy, however, it's . . ." Giles looked momentarily at a loss. "Some fiexibiity is required."

"Why?"

"Hi, guys," Willow said quickly, putting an end to the discussion. "What's going on?"

"There's been a big mix-up," Buffy replied.

"It seems that somehow, another Slayer has been sent to Sunnydale," Giles added.

Willow looked from one of them to the other. "Is that even possible? I mean, two Slayers at the same time?"

"Not that I know of." Giles took off his glasses, gazing down thoughtfully. "The new Slayer is only called after the previous Slayer has died-"