Disclaimers – If you want to read the
disclaimers, go to Part 1
Summary – This is the third and next
sequel after "A Higher Power" and takes place just after "The
Next Illogical Step", enjoy.
Thanks - Special thanks go to Ralf, for his help and patience Beta
reading this story, pointing out problems and solutions, and all in all making
this a better story. Also a big thanks to all of you that continue to send
feedback, it keeps the motor running. ~A~
Feedback – Please send any comments or
suggestions to Alex at keeper444@webtv.net.
Flames will be summarily deleted.
< > Thoughts
Kresis was
enraged, so enraged in fact he’d lost control, something he rarely did. As soon
as Hela’s emissary had arrived at his door he knew he’d been played for a fool
by his ex once again.
Once the black
skinned demon had suffered enough, he finally confessed to his part in her
conspiracy. The Count had become nearly insane with rage. Kresis was so enraged
he’d torn the already terrified demon into small pieces, all of which were scattered
all around the throne room.
Several of his
servants were attempting to clean up the torn bits of flesh and the thick green
goo that had passed for the demons blood from the floors, walls, and furniture.
“I see my
lords temperament hasn’t improved since we were last together,” said a
confident voice from across the room.
Kresis looked
up and saw a tall muscular figure leaning against the doorframe casually. He
knew only one being in this realm that dared address him in such an insolent
manner.
“Caladin, is
that truly you my old friend?” the Count shouted, what passed for a smile
spread across his face. “Thank the Darkness you are here.”
The only one
there that didn’t cringe when the Count flashed his razor sharp teeth with fangs
was the tall heavily muscled warrior. The mercenary leader pushed himself off
the door jam, and approached his sworn liege lord and long time comrade.
Caladin strode straight up to the Count and took the offered hand. Kresis threw
his other arm around the big mans shoulders and took the in a fierce yet
friendly embrace.
Caladin
stepped back surprised that his old comrade and commander would show such
familiarity in a public place. He studied his face for a few moments and saw
the weariness and frustration clearly written on the normally emotionless face.
“You seem to
be troubled my lord.” Caladin said quietly so that only Kresis could hear him.
“Is there anything I can do? My men and I are at your service as always.”
“As always my
old friend, you have read the situation perfectly.” Kresis said, placing a
taloned hand on the battle scared warriors shoulder. “It is time I took control
of this entire fiasco and now that you are here I may even get out of this
alive. Let us adjourn to a more private place, we have some serious strategy to
discuss.”
The Count led
his battle-scarred friend from the room down a narrow hallway to a small room
that had a heavy wooden table and six chairs. On the wall was a large highly
detailed map of Sunnydale and the surrounding area that contained far more
detail than any normal map. The detail, and the fact that the map was printed
on cured human skin, led Caladin to think that no ordinary human mapmaker was
involved in its creation.
Caladin went
to a small bar in a corner of the room and found the ingredients for the Counts
favorite drink and a large bottle of his favorite Irish whiskey (Bushmills). As
Caladin made each of them a drink, Kresis briefed his best strategist and
warlord on the entire situation leaving nothing out, including how he'd been
fooled into coming here by his ex, an adversary Caladin knew well.
“Well Caladin
what do you think?” Kresis asked as he accepted the drink the battle wise
veteran brought him. “After all, besides me, you are the only one I know of
that has gone up against Hela and lived.”
“Not by much,
as you will recall.” Caladin said tapping the empty socket where his left eye
had once been. “And that was a minor skirmish. The bitch means to destroy you
this time my lord.”
“Yes well, be
that as it may.” Kresis said, doing his best to smile and shrug. “If I don’t
receive word from Tarsus by tomorrow then I’ll be forced to join her in
tomorrow nights ambush and going by our past record, I will not fare well.”
“Then it would
be safe to assume that you have a contingency plan,” the cunning old warrior
said smiling slyly. “And that plan will make use of my men and I.”
“Exactly my
mercenary friend.” Kresis said returning the smile “Only I know of the
existence of you and your mercenaries and I have cooked up a little surprise
for our dear sweet Hela. If it works out I’ll have vindicated myself with the
Dark-Lord and the Council, and our little lady friend will pay the price for
betraying me.”
Caladin closed
the door. It didn’t open again for over six hours. Then the two comrades shook
hands and went their separate ways smiling at the thought of getting revenge on
their mutual long time enemy.
.................................
Same day early morning.
Giles was in his
kitchen making his breakfast when he heard his front door slam open. Grabbing a
revolver with specially made ammunition from a drawer, he cautiously entered
the hallway and with the handgun at the low ready position he approached the
front entryway.
“Stay where
you are!” he ordered as he leapt into the small entrance hall and found himself
pointing the gun at Buffy’s face.
Buffy was
standing there holding Willow in her arms. She looked exhausted and, while
Willow was unconscious, Giles couldn’t see any obvious injuries.
“Damn Giles,
who are you tryin’ to be?" Buffy exclaimed surprised to be facing her
Watcher with a gun. “England’s answer to Dirty Harry!?”
Giles lowered
the gun and stood speechless starring at the girls.
“Come on
Giles, either shoot me or get out of the way.” Buffy growled. “Even a Slayer
gets tired and my little sweetheart here is getting heavy.”
Once he
stepped aside Buffy carried her precious burden into the living room and laid
her gently down on the oversized couch. She sat down next to Willow and scooted
over so that her red haired loves head rested on her lap.
“What
happened?” Giles asked worried about the two girls welfare. “Is Willow
alright?”
“She’s just
exhausted.” Buffy explained wearily. “We ran into another ambush, I don’t know
how many. I kept killing and killing and they just kept coming. Willow was
doing her best, but she keeps coming up against some kind of higher dark magic
that takes nearly everything she’s got
just to hold
it off. Between that and supporting me through our bond she’s drained almost
completely. She collapsed just at sunrise.”
Buffy broke
down becoming almost hysterical.
“I thought...I
wasn’t...Oh Giles I was afraid she was hurt again,” the Slayer sobbed, heart
broken by her inability to protect her redhaired lover. “I thought I’d failed
her again but she woke enough to tell me she’s just tired and had to shut down
to recharge then she passed out so I carried her here. Giles you have to help
us, this is just too much, I can’t do it any more.”
The
compassionate man sat on the coffee table facing Buffy and took her hand then
looked directly into the young Slayers blue-green eyes. His first instinct was
to scold the distraught young woman for not keeping him informed but was
stopped by the haunted look in those too old eyes.
“Fill me in
Buffy,” he began softly. “This is what, the fourth or fifth ambush in the last
six weeks and I would say that was unusually high at any time but even more so
considering this is summer and activities normally decrease during this season
not increase. Further I have come to the conclusion that this has something to
do with your upcoming nuptials. For some reason the dark side seems determined
to stop them, which would appear to be all the encouragement we need to see
that they go off without a hitch.”
Buffy smiled
at Giles ability to belabor the obvious, and his left-handed way of saying he
approved of her and Willows making public their commitment to each other.
“Okay, give me
a minute will ya.” She began resigning herself to spending the next few hours
bringing Giles up to date on what was going on.
Buffy felt a
twinge of guilt for not keeping Giles better informed, then showing up on his
doorstep expecting instant results. It wasn’t fair to Giles, especially when
she knew he would now spend his every waking moment trying to find a suitable
solution for their problems.
Knowing what
Giles needed to know Buffy began back at the very first ambush in June right
after Litha. She described each ambush in as much detail as she could recall,
how each ambush was worse than the last, and was harder to fend off.
She told him
how Willow was being forced not only to face various demons and vampires but
she also had to fight an unknown assailant that used very powerful dark magic
was coordinating his attacks with that of the others and judging by the
strength of his magic this unknown force was more than likely the leader.
Buffy also
told him of the latest twist in demon strategy, how they would use human
hostages to lure them into the trap then while they watched unable to help the
demons would butcher the innocent victims.
How it had
started with the teenage girl that had been taken from the Bronze, and that it
happened again last night to some poor couple whose only mistake was picking
the wrong tree to make out under. Including how the slime demons had ripped
their living bodies to shreds right in front of the two girls.
Buffy laid her
head back and closed her eyes, she could still hear the young couples screams
ringing in her ears, tearing at her soul.
“Please Giles
you’ve gotta help us.” Buffy pleaded her voice cracking as she wept quietly.
“We’re in way over our heads here. Willow’s been wonderful, but look at her
Giles, this is killing her.”
Buffy gave her
friend and mentor an anguished look. Even through the pain and fear Giles could
easily see her determination.
“She wasn’t
meant for this,” the Slayer croaked her voice tight with unreleased emotions.
“I will not allow her to be hurt any more because of this destiny thing.”
“I’ll die
before I permit anything happen to her again.” The petite blonde straightened
up her back stiffening with her resolve. “It’s gotta stop Giles. People,
innocent people are dying.”
Giles leaned
forward and placed his hand on the Slayers shoulder giving it a light
reassuring squeeze. He looked deep into her red-rimmed eyes. The stress and
horror of the last several weeks were clearly written in her pain filled
windows to the young girls soul.
Giles felt the
tightness in his chest, wishing he could take her burdens on for her, but he
knew the only way he could help Buffy was to help her cope with the dark
realities of her life and support both her and Willow in any way he could.
Giles was
determined to perform that task to the best of his abilities.
“Okay Buffy.”
the ex-Watcher said in that soft reassuring tone he reserved just for his
Slayer and her witch. “You and Willow stay here and relax.”
Giles rose
from his seat and began pacing, causing Buffy to smile slightly recognizing the
familiar sign of the Watcher’s mind focusing on a problem.
When he got
this way she knew he wouldn’t rest until he found a satisfactory solution to
their problems.
“If you get hungry,
call for some delivery,” Giles added absent-mindedly. “The numbers are by the
telephone, just have them charge it to my account. If you want a shower go
ahead. You already know where everything is, probably better than I do. I’m
sure the two of you have at least one change around here somewhere. I want you
to stay here, so if I come up with something I will be able to find you.”
“Alright, I
didn’t want to wake Wills up anyway.” Buffy knew he just wanted them to stay so
he could watch over them. “I think we’ll stay right here on the couch for now.
Wills looks comfortable, and I'm not leavin’ her right now for any reason.”
“That’s fine
Buffy,” he said. Then giving her an inquiring look asked, “Is there anything
else I should know before I get started?”
“Ah...no
nothing I can think of right now.” Buffy said not wanting to tell him about the
dreams, the sleep walking, and the self-mutilation.
<>He has
enough to worry about.<> she told herself rationalizing her not being
completely honest with Giles.
“Okay then I
will get to work.” Giles said frowning, he had known Buffy long enough to know
when she was holding back something.
<>She
will tell me when she is ready.<> he reassured himself.
Giles headed
for his study, leaving the girls to rest on the couch. He would need all his
resources to find the cause of these latest attacks on the Slayer and her
chosen mate. His only hope was that whatever the Slayer wasn't telling him was
not something that could prove fatal before she felt safe enough to share it
with him.
Countess Hela
sat in the throne room of her temporary home humming a happy demented little
tune. Her spies had brought her a report of the ambush that fool Kresis’ people
had attempted, it failed as usual. All her carefully laid plans were
progressing nicely.
She’d very
nearly had the Slayer that last time, but the little witch-kit had interfered,
but it wouldn’t be long now. With Willow draining her powers to the point of
collapse she wouldn’t be able to interfere next time.
“I think I’ll
take a peek at my two little targets,” the demoness hissed happily. “Maybe I’ll
be able to drive the wedge between them even further now that she’s weakened.”
Hela’s only worry
was the source of the unknown power that had rescued the two from last night’s
ambush. She cursed herself for not being there to watch over her future pets.
<>It
simply wouldn’t do to have Kresis take them after all I’ve invested in their
capture.<> she scolded herself. <>No that wouldn’t do at
all.<>
With this
thought in mind the powerful demoness began to carefully recite the spell that
created the scrying sphere. As the glowing red ball appeared, Hela decided to
enter the Slayers id to wreak even further havoc with the young sensitive girls
sanity.
As the vision
of the two sleeping lovers came into focus. She cackled as she fed off of the
innocence displayed by her unaware victims. Once the picture was clear Hela
sent forth a tentacle of power to stealthily worm its way into the Slayers
subconscious to exploit the naive child’s undeserved guilt.
“This is fun!”
the living embodiment of evil mumbled to herself, as she anticipated the
torture she was about to inflict on Buffy’s mind. “It won’t be long till she’s
mine completely, and there’s nothing the witch-kit can do about it.”
Her maniacal
laughter filled the air as Hela pushed her power harder into the unknowing mind
of the pure innocent girl.
It was nearly
time for the Slayer to feel the full weight of Hela’s ability to destroy her
will and learn the true meaning of submission.
++++++++++++
Giles was in
his study his nose buried deep in some ancient tome when he heard Buffy crying
out. He bolted from his chair and charged into the living room ready to face,
and defeat whatever evil was attacking his Slayer.
For the first
time he saw the eerie glow that surrounded the girls as they slept recuperating
from a hard night.
Buffy was
tossing her head from side to side and begging someone to forgive her for
something.
As she begged
the glow around her began to change from neon green to a sickly, reddish
yellow. The stain spread across the Slayers half of the protective glow very
nearly covering her completely.
Giles was
unable to move as he watched the evil looking glow spreading and Buffy becoming
more and more agitated. He knew he should do something but for some reason he
couldn’t move or speak.
He was
paralyzed and helpless as he watched the attack on his surrogate daughter
progressed unabated. Never in his entire life had the ex-watcher and teacher
felt so completely useless. Giles felt nothing but contempt for himself and the
weakness in himself that was powerless to aid the two people that depended on
him to protect them.
Just as the
sickly looking glow was about to engulf Buffy completely, Giles heard Willow
mumbling something in her sleep.
“A’nal
Na’thrak U’thas Bet’hard Dan’nal Vein’dah.”
Giles had no
idea what it meant but Willow began chanting it over and over again.
“A’nal
Na’thrak U’thas Bet’hard Dan’nal Vein’dah.”
He saw the
glow on Willows side of the glow growing brighter each time she uttered the
phrase. Her voice got louder and stronger each time she repeated the words
until it reached its peak.
“A’NAL NA’THRAK
U’THAS BET’HARD DAN’NAL VIEN’DAH DAR’GA SAR’ETHA!”
There was a
sudden bright flash of light from Willows side of the surrounding glow, the
stain was gone and Buffy was once more sleeping peacefully.
Giles realized
he had just witnessed a mystical attack on them while they slept, and even more
interestingly Willows successful defense against it.
It was then he
realized the seriousness of the mystic threat they faced. He knew now that they
faced a far greater evil than they’d faced before because there were two of
them.
One was coming
at them head on meeting them in battle supporting the dark forces that were
attacking them directly.
However, the
one he’d just seen was sly and cunning more subtle and quite possibility far
more dangerous.
Giles knew he
should hurry and get on the phone to call reinforcements, but for a few moments
all he could do was stare at the small redhaired witch snuggled up against her
lover.
He shook his
head in wonder at how someone so sweet and innocent could wield such great
power.
<>She
really has no idea how powerful she truly is.<> he thought chuckling.
<>She has just used an ancient spell from the book that neither one of us
has been able to translate yet, even with Angels help, and she just used it to
protect Buffy in her sleep. Fascinating.<>
Breaking out
of his thoughts Giles got into his Rolodex, and began making calls. They were
going to need all the help they could get.
=========
Countess Hela had
finally reached the Slayers sleeping subconscious and was beginning to
manipulate the human’s dreams.
“This is
almost too easy,” she cackled to herself. “Kresis wears them down, and
distracts the little witch-kit while I sneak in the back door, take control of
the Slayer, and then through her the little witch-kit.”
Watching her
intended victim in the glowing red sphere that hovered in front of her. Hela
could feel her magic fingers reaching deep into the hidden recesses of her
preys mind, prying out her deepest secrets and her darkest fears, bringing them
to the surface. Forcing them into her dreams to torture, and torment the Slayer
weakening her defenses. Until Hela could bend the Slayers will to her own.
Suddenly, just
as Hela was about to once again take control of the Slayers subconscious,
another force struck out at her. She wasn’t sure where this other power came
from but it was stronger than any Hela had encountered before in this world. It
smashed into her own probing magic power and blew back at her, causing her
viewing sphere to explode in a blinding flash of greenish white light.
The power
released by the backlash lifted the demoness off her feet and threw her across
the room into a wall. Hela slid down the wall stunned by the force that had
just hit her. The power released by the blast shook the entire house.
For the first
time in her life Hela knew true fear. She was facing an unknown factor that was
so powerful it had swatted her back like she was an insignificant insect.
From her brief
contact with this power she knew its wielder was female and she was not of the
Darkness. Oh no, this powerful mage was most decidedly on the side of Light,
automatically making her an enemy to be reckoned with, and Hela had just lost
her first battle with it.
Her screams of
rage echoed throughout the house, many of the beings staying there did not live
through the day.
The lucky
ones.
Giles had just
finished patrolling. When the sun had gone down and the girls hadn’t woken up,
he decided to let them sleep while he made a sweep.
After the
thwarted attack on Buffy that morning, he had spent the rest of the day
watching over them and thinking about a plan.
<>I only
hope they are willing to go along with it.<> Giles thought. <>This
is the first time I’ve called in outside help without their consent, but I have
no choice.<>
He kept up the
mental dialogue all the way home. <>Anyone that can worm their way
through Willows defenses and so thoroughly attack Buffy was a formidable foe.
The type of the attack also spoke volumes about the kind of Magician that was
behind it.<>
By the time he
walked into the door he was certain that his plan was the only way to save the girls-from
what he still wasn’t sure-but he was sure of the danger they were in.
“Buffy,
Willow?” He called, when he didn't find them on the couch. He felt a brief
surge of panic at their absence and decided to call them at their apartment
next door in spite of the late hour. But, as he entered the hallway Giles heard
the raised voices of a heated argument.
“Willow you
can’t! You promised!” Buffy’s voice easily carried thorough the closed door of
his spare bedroom. “He’ll tell mom...t-they’ll h-hate m-me! Or he will think
I’m ready to be put away!”
The sound of
her sobbing plea tore at the ex-Watchers heart, and made him wonder what could
possibly be so bad that Joyce might hate her for it. Then he realized, nothing.
Buffy wasn’t thinking clearly.
“Buffy honey,
don’t cry.” he heard Willow say as he reached up to knock on the door. “We have
tell him so he can help us, Giles could never hate you.”
Giles could
hear the near hysteria in Willows voice. Hoping that what he had to say would
allay their fears, Giles knocked lightly on the door. Instantly, Buffy’s crying
stopped.
“Yeah?” Willow
called out. “Is that you Giles?”
“Yes, are you
clothed?” He asked. “I believe we need to talk.”
“I bet.” he
heard Buffy say sarcastically. “He’s probably been snooping around out there
spying on us.”
“Buffy
please!” Willow hissed, embarrassed by her companions rude remark. Then she
called out, “Come on in Giles.”
He cautiously
stepped through the door. Looking around he saw Buffy sitting on the floor
facing a corner hugging her knees. Her body was shaking as she tried to hide
her sobbing from him.
Willow was
sitting on the edge of the bed; her entire body ridged with tension and her
eyes were red and puffy and locked on Buffy. Giles could see the trails left by
the young witch’s tears. He surmised the argument had been going on for some
time before he arrived.
“I’m sorry if
we disturbed you, Giles.” Willow said softly her voice trembling with emotion,
her eyes never leaving her lover. “There seems to be a minor break down in
communications.”
“I see.” Giles
paused as he turned back to Buffy. He had never seen his Slayer this
distraught.
<>I just
hope we aren’t too late. <> He thought as he watched the Slayer try to pull
even farther into herself. “Well is there anything I can do?” he asked,
sympathetically. Looking back at Willow and seeing the signs of pressure the
redhead was under.
“No, Giles.”
Willow sighed.
<>She
looks like she’s about to face a firing squad! Well, I guess she’s resigned to
having to hurt the person she loves most in the world, either that or letting
her lover get killed. <> Giles’ estimation of Willows strength rose
higher.
“All you can
do for us is listen.” Willow continued sadly. “There is something I have to
tell you.”
“No, Wills,
please...” Buffy cried out in a tiny wounded voice. “Please don’t do this to
me.”
Willow went to
her hysterical lover, knelt beside her, and pulled her to her chest. She began
rocking Buffy gently stroking her soft golden hair trying to comfort the
hysterical girl.
Giles watched
as every time Buffy sobbed Willow would flinch as if she were being beaten. But
the young Witch had on her resolve face so that even Giles could tell Willow
was in as much pain as Buffy. He could also see that the young witch was
determined to do what ever was necessary to keep her lover safe and alive, no
matter how much it hurt Willow to do it.
“I’m not doing
this to you baby. I'm doing this for us.” Willow explained softly into Buffy’s
ear as if comforting a frightened child. “This is Giles, love, he takes care of
us and he protects us. He’d never ever hurt us. But most of all sweetheart,
he’s like a father to you. He loves you like you were his own daughter.”
“He has to
know everything that’s happening,” the devoted redhead whispered into the
Slayers ear. “So he can keep my sweet Slayer alive for me. I would die if
anything happened to you because I didn’t tell him something.”
Giles choked
on his tears at Willows revelations; he was totally speechless listening to her
opinion of him. He felt a little embarrassed at witnessing this highly personal
exchange between lovers, and more than a little happy that the witch trusted
him so much.
“Please baby
let me tell him.” Willow whispered into Buffy’s ear nipping lightly at the
lobe. “I believe in Giles and deep down you do too. I’m begging you honey let
me do this for you.”
Giles was
about to speak when Buffy nodded her head slowly.
“Go ahead and
tell him.” Buffy whispered softly. “If you think it’s that important and it
will make you happy wills. I never could deny you anything.”
Willows face
lit up and she began kissing Buffy’s face and neck.
“Thank you,
{kiss} thank you {kiss} thank you.” Willow said joyfully. “I know he will help
us. I just know he will.”
Willow was
doing her best to smother Buffy with kisses, so Giles cleared his throat to
remind them he was there before things got out of hand.
“Oh
Giles...I...ha...you...” Willow stammered embarrassed.
Buffy giggled at
her lovers condition, a sudden mood change after the decision that further
cemented Giles’ belief of a mental attack.
“Oh you’re
gonna so get yours young lady!” Willow told her with a sexually charged growl.
“Any time
you’re ready Willow?” Giles said calmly, inwardly amused and relieved that the
girls’ good-natured banter had returned. It would make what he was about to
tell them easier.
“I am here for
however long you need me,” he added with an easy smile. It was hard not to
smile around his girls.
Giles went
over and sat on the edge of the bed and, while Willow continued to hold and
comfort her lover, she told Giles everything she knew about Buffy’s night
terrors.
When she
finished Giles took off his glasses and cleaned them (a nervous habit he had
whenever he faced a problem).
“The first
thing I think we should clear up is, from what you have told me and what I have
already seen, these are not dreams per say.” Giles said as he replaced his
glasses. “My best guess would be that they are some form of metaphysical
attack.”
He kept silent
as he watched the girls digest this information. At first neither of them said
anything they just stared at the librarian, slack jawed and wide eyed--then a
beatific smile spread over Buffy’s face.
“That means
I’m not insane? Right?” Buffy asked relief evident in her voice.
“Insane? Good
lord Buffy, of course not!” Giles answered. “What ever gave you that idea?”
“Well... you
know...I mean first the dreams wouldn’t go away.” Buffy answered subdued. The
Englishman noticed Willow starting to stroke her hair again to calm her. “Then
I started waking up in different parts of the house-with these strange marks
and scratches-not knowing how I got them or got there.”
She hid her
face behind Willows shoulder. “I kinda figured if you found out you’d have me
locked up in some home for whacked out Slayers or something like that.”
“No one would
ever take you away from me! Not ever!” Willow growled protectively. “I don’t care
who they are, they will never get you away from me!”
“It is all
right Willow.” Giles said to calm the witch, before she could upset Buffy
again. “There will be no taking anyone anywhere and that I promise you.”
The sudden
intense look on Willows face made even Giles a little nervous. In a way he
could almost feel sorry for anyone that tried to come between them.
“All right
then, if we have successfully cleared up the sanity matter, I think it is time
we got around to what to do about the attacks and the ambushes.”
Giles paused
to see if his two charges had any more to say, when they said nothing, he
continued. “I believe I have come up with a viable plan of action that will
deflect any interference from any outside forces. In order to do that however
it will be necessary to use some methods that we have never used before.”
Once he had
the girls undivided attention, Giles outlined his plan and, although they
strenuously objected to some of the methods he wanted to use, they both saw his
point finally and reluctantly agreed to the overall plan.
While the
former Watcher and scholar informed his charges that the plan also called for
him to bring in “special” outside help, he flatly refused to divulge any
further information as to the nature of the help, or who he was calling in. He
just told them it was from an unusual source that was uniquely qualified to
handle the situation, but would go no further.
Giles’ only
worry was if the two warriors in his care would accept the assistance,
considering the source he couldn’t be sure. It was a chance he had to take. It
was his unenviable task to provide for the well being of the Slayer and her
mate from whatever source was available to him, whether they approved of it or
not.
<>I only
hope Willow can control her prejudices long enough for me to convince Buffy not
to hurt them.<> the ex-Watcher pondered. <>I just wish I could tell
them the whole truth of the situation, but that just isn’t an option right
now.<>
Once he got
the two girls settled down enough to rest for the remainder of the day, Giles
went back to work in his study determined to learn what the spell that Willow
had used in her sleep meant and what really happened earlier that morning.
Before he
realized it the day had passed and it was nearly time for dinner, he couldn’t
believe how quickly the day had passed and that Buffy and Willow had slept most
of the day away.
The true
miracle was that there had been no outside interruptions and for the first time
in a long, long time the girls had actually gotten some much needed and long
deserved sleep. Too bad he had to wake them up to face life on the Hellmouth
once again.
==================
The screaming
had stopped, cut off with frightening finality. Within seconds of the last
gurgling scream the door to Countess Hela’s private chambers flew open slamming
into the wall and the tall exotically erotic female strolled out of the dimly
lit room. Her frustration showed clearly in her every move and look.
Most of the
servants, both human and non-human cringed back into the shadows trying to
avoid her notice. When the Countess was frustrated, things could get messy if
she noticed you.
Her glowing
red eyes fell on the one human not trying to hide from her. A terrifying smile
crossed her lips.
The man was a
huge heavily muscled Latino. Hela had found him hiding in an alley, living like
an animal, filthy and hungry, and his insanity openly written on his face and
in his behaviour.
As soon as the
Demoness saw him in that alley she knew who and what he was, and knew he would
be a perfect servant and pet.
His name was
Max that was all; no last name, no nicknames, just Max. It seems that Max had
been hiding in that alley because the authorities had found him out in his
native country. The police had been plagued by a particularly vicious serial
killer whose MO was to torture his victims for several days before dissecting
their still living bodies. Still living bodies of mostly redheaded women, but a
blonde would do in a crunch.
Once in the
service of his beloved Countess he became her most loyal and devoted servant.
He refused any reward for his service, he only asked to do her bidding and be
allowed to remain in her presence.
When he saw
her eyes on him Max felt a shiver of joy run through his body. Since the death
of Hela’s favorite demon, Max had taken his place as the head of her household
and her personal playmate.
“Come to me
Max.” Hela purred smiling at him. “I have need of you my pet.”
Adoration
shone in his eyes as he approached her reverently, like a zealot approaching
their god.
“Yes your
grace.” Max’s voice trembled with emotion. “How may I serve you?”
She looked
down into his adoring eyes and smiled, her razor sharp teeth and fangs flashing
in the flickering light. Hela reached out with a long taloned finger and traced
his jaw, then seeing him shiver in ecstasy at her touch, she let the finger
continue down his neck and across the well-defined muscles of his chest.
“Take some of
these useless louts and have them clean my chambers.” Hela ordered him, never
raising her voice above a whisper. “Dispose of the remains in the usual way, I
imagine the dogs are hungry.”
“As you wish
your grace,” he said never taking his eyes off his goddess. He was in awe of
her voracious appetites and wanted desperately to please her. “Are they ready?”
“Two of them
are,” she replied off-handedly. “The last one is broken but she still breathes,
these human females are pretty and fun but they have no stamina. I certainly
hope the Slayer is a little more entertaining than the others of her kind. I
can’t wait to begin her final training.”
The man nodded
his agreement then turned and began ordering some of the lower demons and human
servants to join him in the Countess’ chambers. All of them jumped at his
commands; they feared him almost as much as they feared the Countess herself.
The Demoness
laughed as a thought entered her mind; she visualized Max training the
witch-kit while the Slayer was forced to watch. Her raucous maniacal laughter
filled the room bringing shivers of fear to those remaining.
“Oh, and Max,”
she purred.
“Yes your
grace?” he returned instantly.
“Do a good job
my pet and I'll find you a new toy,” she promised her psychopathic servant.
With a twisted
insane grin on his face, Max turned and hurried to do his mistress’ bidding.
Having
finished that portion of her morning business and knowing without reservation
that Max would follow her instructions to the letter, Hela continued on to her
next order of business.
Events of the
last few days had placed an unusual drain on her power and Hela was in serious
need of a recharge.
She went
across the room to the stone altar that was set up in a shadowed corner of her
‘throne’ room. Dipping a finger into a bowl of blood she'd harvested from her
playthings the night before, Hela began carefully drawing symbols on the alter
while chanting ancient formulas that were old when man first walked on the
earth.
Once she
finished drawing the necessary symbols and continuing her eerie chant she ran a
razor sharp talon down the inside of her arm opening a vein.
Allowing her
blood to flow over the altar Hela chanted as a sickly looking red and yellow
flame rose from the stone surface it spread out until it engulfed the Countess.
To her the
flames held no heat they were in fact frigid.
The intense
cold entered her body filling it with its energy. The fire on the altar surface
slowly died leaving behind a clean unmarked surface, but Hela’s entire body was
in flames.
The fiery
figure stretched and writhed, then she screamed, but not in pain. From the
sounds it was as if she was sexually aroused and the scream signaled her
orgasm.
Slowly the
flames faded leaving behind smooth soft flawless skin and long shining black
hair, all signs of fatigue and battle were gone leaving Hela completely rested
and restored.
Holding her
arms straight out at shoulder level, Hela threw her head back and let out an
earth shaking howling roar challenging the gods of light in the name of her own
dark deities.
Hela spun
around with a flourish and faced the minions that had stayed to see the ritual
and fixed them with her brightly glowing red eyes, then she slowly allowed a
menacing feral smile to cross her lips.
“Now back to our
little Slayer and her precious witch-kit,” Hela growled evilly. “I will have
them and I will be rid of that bastard Kresis.”
No one doubted
her for a minute.