By Alex P.
Feedback – Please any comments or suggestions to: keeper444@webtv.net
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As
usual, despite their late night both Buffy and Willow were awake and by ten
a.m. they were knocking on Giles door. It was a surprised ex-librarian that
answered the door and found his two surrogate daughters. He stepped back and
allowed them to enter his home.
“Hey
Giles-y,” Buffy said lightly “we brought donuts, even the jelly ones you like.”
“To
what do I owe this sudden spate of courtesy” the stunned ex-Watcher inquired
curious about why the two young women didn’t just use their key and walk in
unannounced as usual “mind you I'm not complaining but I have learned that when
you people show me this kind of respect, something bad is about to happen.”
“Oh
Giles,” Buffy said as they both rolled their eyes while making themselves at
home on his couch. “you are just so full of it.”
“Buffy!”
Willow scolded, “you just don’t like it cause he’s right. By the way Giles have
you been grocery shopping lately?”
“Yesterday,
why?” Giles asked, studying his two young friends
“Weeell...we
kind of called Xander and Cordy and told them to meet us here for a research
marathon.” The redhead confessed, giving her best ‘shy innocent’ face. “And I
mean you know how Xander can be when it comes to food.”
“Yes
I do,” the Englishman snorted as he picked up the phone and began dialing the
number of the nearest 24 hour pizza delivery. “How long is this going to be?”
Buffy
looked at her mentor, her face suddenly deadly serious, her blue-green eyes
boring holes into his very soul.
“It
will take as long as it takes to find everything there is to know about this
‘Romanian prophecy’ and that’s it.” The Slayer snapped irritated at her
ex-Watcher for trying to get her wife to keep secrets from her. “We’ve called
Xander, Cordy, and Dr. Fallon, who by the way, even offered to bring some books
he had that referred to the Prince of Darkness, the prophecy, and anything else
he could find. Isn’t it funny the way the representatives of the church are
being *so* helpful?”
Her
sarcasm wasn’t missed by Giles and he was feeling a little guilty because he
knew he deserved it and a little hurt because she wouldn’t let him explain why
he hadn’t wanted her to know about this crazy prophecy.
“Really
Buffy, if you would just listen,” the sad eyed man pleaded. “I know I could
explain...”
“Enough
Giles!” Buffy snarled stopping his apology before he could get it out “I can’t
believe you, you sat here not a year ago and lectured *me* about keeping
secrets and not tellin’ Wills about things going on. Remember the night before
our wedding and now you try to get my *wife* to hide things from me,
un-frickin’-believable.”
“Buffy,
please honey, let it go.” Willow asked softly and almost instantly the Slayer
calmed down, quit pacing and sat back down next to her gentle wife. Willow
smiled indulgently at her beloved and highly emotional lover.
Their
roles and reactions had been defined from the beginning by their calling. Willow
the shy quiet intelligent girl was now the great Sorceress, still quiet,
gentle, and extremely intelligent, but now she was confident, out going and
self-assured, an anchor to her wife and friends.
Buffy
on the other hand had become a volatile and intensely protective Slayer,
completely comfortable with her greatly enhanced Slayer abilities. Her
shortness of patience and the ever present danger of her reacting to everyday
irritations with a wild flurry of physical attacks were held in check partially
by the disciplines of the oriental martial arts that Willow insisted she
continue.
However,
the single most stabilizing influence in the Slayer’s life was her life-partner
and soulmate, Willow.
No
matter how intense the situation a single soft word or touch from the redhead
and the deadly blonde Slayer would stop and calmly wait.
On
the other hand one threat or insult, real or imagined, aimed at the quiet
redhead and the Slayer's hyper-protective nature took over and the outcome was
always potentially fatal.
All
this flashed through Giles mind as he saw the anger literally flashing in the
Slayer’s eyes.
He
would never forget the night the three of them had discovered that particular
new Slayer power.
A
new vampire, called Spike had come to town and began to try to rally the
younger vampires around him, hoping to create a vampire army to face the
Slayer.
Angel
had been called in L.A. and he confirmed that the new vampire was in fact his
childe, and while the bleach blonde vampire was known to be vicious and
completely ruthless, he wasn’t too bright just mostly lucky.
Spike
sent several of his followers after the Slayer and her friends. For the most
part they met with the same fate as most of the Slayer’s other opponents, dust
buster chow.
Then
a bizarre twist of fate put Willow and their friend Cordelia in Spike’s hands.
Thinking
he had the upper hand, he forced the Slayer to meet with him in the old
industrial district, at an old abandoned warehouse, by threatening Willow’s
well being.
Unfortunately
for Spike, no one had told him the consequences of incurring the wrath of the
Slayer, especially when her Sorceress was involved, or about the ability of the
two warriors of Light to draw power from each other.
Giles
and Xander had, against Buffy’s wishes, followed the Slayer to the meeting
place that night.
While
they didn’t actually witness what happened from their vantage point, they saw
the entire interior of the old warehouse light up in a burst of bluish-white
light that seemed brighter than the noon sun, then came the horrible agonized
screams of dying vampires.
To
this day Giles still got a chill down his spine when he remembered that sound.
Later
when Cordelia had calmed enough to tell what she had seen, Giles refused to
enter it into his Watcher’s diary for fear someone might see it and realize the
terrifying ramifications of the powers demonstrated that night.
According
to Cordelia, when Buffy had entered the building she was almost instantly
surrounded by Spike’s minions all snarling and growling in full game face.
Buffy stood in the middle of the hostile group of vamps, completely calm, with
her arms crossed over her chest and her foot tapping impatiently on the
concrete floor.
When
Spike finally arrived the Slayer totally ignored the other vampires as if they
didn’t exist and focused her attention on the arrogant bleach blonde English
vampire.
*******
“Hello
Slayer,” the vamp taunted, “I think you came for these.”
Two
vamps stepped out of the shadows, each one holding a bound and gagged hostage.
Spike reached out and grabbed Willow by her hair and roughly pulled the redhead
to him holding her close to his chest.
“Let
them go Spike,” the Slayer growled, “that was the deal.”
“Ah...but
Slayer...I think I’ve changed my mind.” Spike quipped and licked the side of
Willow’s face “This one’s quite the tasty little piece.”
“Shoulda’
kept your word Ssspike” the Slayer hissed drawing out the vamp’s name, her
hazel eyes narrowed, she’d locked eyes with her wife the second she’d come into
view, “You are a second rate night crawler at best. It’s no wonder even your
sire wants nothing to do with you. Now you’re a liar too and I can’t stand a
liar.”
Spike
was about to give a smart retort when the bright lights shot from Willow and Buffy’s
eyes and met between them in an almost blinding burst of light, that filled the
entire warehouse.
Then
according to Cordelia, the vampires began melting, their screams of fear and
agony were nearly enough to drive a person insane.
Spike
was frozen in horror as he watched his people melt into puddles on the concrete
floor.
Willow
easily stepped out of his grasp and walked calmly to her lover, who began
removing the ropes that bound the witch.
Once
she was free, she gave her beloved Slayer a quick hug, then turned toward the
antagonist that had kidnapped her and her friend and caused her wife so much
worry.
“Look
guys, hey, no harm, no foul right?” Spike said in panic when he saw the two
women focusing on him “I mean I was just kidding, really. I was going to let
her go.”
“Spike!
You laid hands on the one I love, *my* mate!” Buffy growled her anger just
barely under control. “If it was up to me, your short life would be an eternity
of pain, but it was my Wills you took and assaulted, so I leave you in her more
than capable hands.”
The
Slayer turned her back on the terrified vampire and left him facing the angry
red-haired witch whose eyes were glowing eerily. Willow began chanting, quietly
at first but as the glowing in her eyes grew brighter and spheres of green
light appeared in her hands the sing song rhythm of the chanting became louder
and faster.
It
wasn't that Willow raised her voice, instead it was as if her voice was joined
by voices from the air. As the ghostly chorus grew in volume and strength, the
more terrified Spike became. Finally, Willow spoke over the etherial chorus.
“Do
you hear them, Spike?” Willow said as if condemning a prisoner to death. “Do
you hear the voices calling you, do you feel their hands reaching for you. Those
are the souls of every human you have torn from this plane before their time.
We have rendered your pitiful demon impotent, being the selfish entity it is,
it won’t allow you to destroy yourself, and he can stop you I’ve made sure of
that. No other Slayer will touch you. You will spend every minute of every day
for eternity hearing those voices. They will hound you until the powers that be
have decided you have paid fully for your transgressions with your suffering,
and they allow you the mercy of death. Until that time, William Blood, I bid
you good bye.”
Having
finished with Spike the two women went to help Cordelia to her feet and removed
her bonds. As they led the still frightened young woman out she looked over at
Spike curled up in a fetal position in a corner, trembling in fear. His eyes
were rolling wildly and he was mumbling incoherently.
Cordelia
could feel a chill of fear run up and down her spine as she became aware of the
power her two friends wielded so casually.
“Pay
him no mind.” Willow reassured her frightened friend. “That one will never
bother anyone ever again.”
Cordelia
shuddered but the truth was at that moment the ex-prom queen wasn’t sure if she
was more afraid of the evils of the Hellmouth or Buffy and Willow and the power
they seemed to use with impunity.
**********
In
fact it was several weeks before she would be comfortable around them and
several months before she would allow herself to be alone with them again.
It
had only been a couple of weeks that the group had started hanging around with
each other without the “Spike incident” hanging over their heads and to be
honest they were actually looking forward to spending some time together doing
something as normal as research together.
When
Wesley arrived from LA that afternoon the other researchers were already hard
at it.
In
addition to the regulars, the group was also joined by it’s newest member Dr.
Jeffrey Fallon or Brother Jeffrey as the group also knew him. He had proven his
worth as an ally during the fight with the demoness Countess Hela and had
earned the trust of not only the Slayer but also her Willow who had not trusted
him at first because of his ties with the Church.
He
had been an invaluable asset both in a fight and when it came to research, and
had been accepted by the others readily, even Giles who was overjoyed with the
doctor’s easy and willing access to the Church’s extensive occult library.
The
doctor had brought over several extremely rare and priceless volumes that he’d
obtained through his contacts in the Vatican.
Dr.
Jeffrey, as the Scoobies called him, was proud to be a part of the group and
was pleased when he learned of Giles obsession with ancient writings and
prophetic works. The two of them had spent many hours over the last year
comparing notes and arguing the merits of various writings.
He
had as usual been able to locate several volumes that had references to “the
Prince of Darkness” and had forwarded a request from Giles and Willow for
anything else on the subject that could be found.
Dr.
Jeffrey also informed them that he’d received word that a search was on going
and all the results of the search would be forwarded as soon as humanly
possible.
When
Wesley showed up he looked around the room and a satisfied smirk crossed his
face when he saw the group hard at their research. He dropped the materials
he'd brought and called Giles into the study.
Although
the small man hadn’t noticed, Buffy had seen the self-satisfied smirk on the
weasely little man’s face.
Ever
since his involvement with the Faith incident she had never completely trusted
the “ex”-Watcher and the secretive way he handled himself had done nothing to
cause her to change her low opinion of him.
He’d
never done anything that was outright detrimental to her or the group, since
that time, but she’d noticed that things always seemed to go wrong when he was
around.
Something
about the way he had more or less ordered Giles into the library caused her to
twitch, and it irked her to see the way the little weasel treated him like he
was less than Wesley was.
Using
some techniques Willow had taught her, Buffy focused her attention on extending
her hearing so that she could eavesdrop on the surreptitious meeting in Giles
study.
To
everyone else in the room, with the possible exception of her wife, Buffy
appeared to be concentrating on one of the texts in front of her, but all her
inner powers were concentrated on her hearing enabling her to listen to them.
She
could hear every word uttered in that room as if she was sitting in there with
them, and the words she was listening to were making for a very angry Slayer.
“I’m
telling you Giles, you can’t tell them, they simply won't believe you.” Wesley
was saying, “Deep down you know it's time to call the council and ask for
help.”
Giles
snorted derisively at the man’s suggestion. He knew that there was no way he
would ever trust the Council again, and even if he did he was equally sure that
neither Buffy nor Willow would allow the Council access to them again.
“I
told you Wesley, I didn’t like holding out information from Willow and Buffy
when you called earlier, and I like it even less now.” Giles retorted, his
contempt and frustration for the little man fairly dripped from each word. “As
far as the council goes, well they can go straight to Hell. They are nothing
but a bunch of lying, murdering, pompous windbags. All I ever got from the Council since coming to California is
deceit and betrayal, I’ve sworn to never trust them again and I see no reason
to change my mind now.”
There
was a pause and Buffy could hear some one pacing.
“Don’t
you see it Giles?” Wesley spouted off again. “If this truly is who we think it
is, then we need them. The Council is better equipped to face his return than
you and that group of children out there.”
Buffy
could hear Giles laughing loudly but without humor at the arrogance and
stupidity of the skinny, little ex-Watcher.
“You
are either blind or stupid Wesley.” Giles declared impatiently. “The glorious
Council can’t even take care of itself. Don’t you remember those inept fools
they sent here for Faith? My god man, use your brain, the Watcher’s Council is
an outdated, impotent, old boys club that should have disbanded years ago. To
be honest, if you're right and the Kaziglu Bey, is this “Prince of
Darkness”
in the prophecy I hope he shows good taste and does away with the Council
before he comes here.”
“B...but
you can’t be serious.” Wesley sputtered, shocked by the older man’s attitude.
“My
good man,” Giles snarled making Buffy smile with pride as her friend and mentor
put the other man in his place, “I am deadly serious. Now if will excuse me,
I’m going out there and help my Slayer and her wife look for the answers they
need. Come along if you are a friend and wish to help, if not than either stay
out of the way or better yet leave.”
Giles
rose from behind his desk and went into the living room, followed by a humbled
Wesley Wyndom-Pryce. Buffy looked up at them, and Giles couldn’t help but
notice the triumphant smirk on her face.
He
wondered what she was so happy about, but let it drop for now to be discussed
later. The librarian went on to his favorite chair and sat down with a weary
sigh.
He
was already tired of having to argue with either Buffy, Willow, or Wesley every
time he made a decision. Giles leaned his head back and closed his eyes trying to
relax as Jeffrey and Willow filled him in on what they'd found so far.
“We
have found references to a ‘Prince of Darkness’ all the way back to the ancient
Egyptians. Even further if I have translated some of the older texts properly.”
The doctor said quietly, he was still nervous about being this close to the
Slayer and even more afraid of the Sorceress, remembering her attitude when
they first met. “There are even mentions of him being a noble of Atlantis that
escaped the sudden violent destruction of that civilization. In fact the name
pops up at least once in nearly every great civilization, and always as a
prince or close adviser to a great leader. In Egypt he was the adopted brother
of Ramses the First and was credited with the expansionist wars of that
time. He disappeared for a few years
after Ramses death, only to return to assist Ramses the Second nearly a hundred
years later to help make Egypt the most powerful civilization of its’ time.”
“Yeah,
this is some strange stuff.” Willow joined in “For nearly every great conqueror
there was, there is the mention of an adviser or general who’s always called
‘the Prince of Darkness’ but always by different real names.”
All
through the briefing Buffy just sat there quietly seeming to rest, but she was in
reality keeping her eyes on the two ex-Watchers.
Both
of them were well aware of the Slayer’s gaze and Wesley was squirming from its
intensity. Giles because he knew that Buffy still hadn’t forgiven him for
keeping secrets from her, and Wesley because he’d seen what the Slayer and her
Sorceress could do and had a deep seated fear of strong women.
When
Willow and Dr. Jeffrey had finished their summery of their research and finds,
Buffy decided it was time to drop her “little” bomb.
“Hey
Wesley, Giles.” The Slayer spoke a little louder than normal, getting
everyone’s attention, “I was wondering, I have heard this other nickname for
our dear elusive guest, and I couldn’t help but ask. Do either one of you know
who the Kaziglu Bey is?”
Wesley
nearly exploded.
At
the mention of Kaziglu Bey, both men froze and an apprehensive silence fell
over the room. Simultaneously they turned and looked at the Slayer, Giles
expression was the definition of amused curiosity, obviously wondering how his
Slayer had learned that name.
Wesley
was another story, at the mention of Kaziglu Bey, he was the poster-boy for
panic. His eyes went wide and darted from side to side as if looking for an
escape, looking like at any minute he’d be in a fight for his life.
“Where
did you get that name?” Wesley blurted out, panic and desperation evident in
the edge in his too high an octave voice, and his hands were curled into fists.
“That name is known only to a few in the Watcher’s Council and it comes from a
text that is only in the Council library.”
Buffy
tensed as she read the weaselly little man’s body language telling her
instincts to prepare to fight.
“What
does that have to do with it?” Buffy demanded, her contempt for the man
dripping from her words. “Why does that name scare you so much Wesley?”
“W-w-what
do you mean?” Wesley sputtered incredulously. “That name means nothing to me.”
Unfortunately
the conversation had the attention of the Slayer’s mate, and her mate was a powerful
witch. Any one could have told the “ex”-Watcher you never ever lie when the
Great Sorceress can hear you.
“WESLEY!”
the witch roared, the venom in Willow's voice surprised even Buffy. “I would
suggest you leave, not just here but Sunnydale all together. I would also
suggest you arrange to leave the U.S. as well, and I would suggest you do it as
soon as possible.”
The
surprised man looked at Willow wide eyed, his mouth open with shock at the
young woman’s words.
“W-w-why
s-s-should I l-l-leave?” he stuttered in defiance. “W-who are y-you to t-t-tell
me to l-leave?”
“Why,
Wesley?” Willow explained how bad the man's mistakes were, “I’ll tell you why.
You are at the very best a spy and betrayer, who has tried to harm both my wife
and myself. Not to mention the lies and
damages you have caused those around us and the poor people that made the
mistake of expecting your kind to have either ethics or morals, not to mention
a least a modicum of human decency. I suggest you leave now, while I can persuade
my wife to let you live, but if you refuse I can not make any promises.”
The
great Sorceress rose from her chair (and there was no doubt this was, the Great
Sorceress, not Willow), and approached the now trembling man. With each step
she softly chanted in an ancient forgotten language that even Giles didn’t
understand.
She
pulled the athame she always carried on her belt and slowly drew it across her
palm as her chanting continued.
When
Willow was face to face with Wesley, she drew back her now freely bleeding
hand, and with a final word, slapped the Watcher across the side of his face
surprising everyone in the room.
Blood
splattered all over the side of Wesley’s face and shirt. He stood there
trembling wondering what came next, he didn’t have long to wait.
“Willow!
Why did you do that?” Giles asked almost afraid to hear the answer.
Instead
of answering right away the Sorceress turned and held up her wounded hand
revealing the deep cut on her palm to everyone. As they watched the wound
disappeared as if it never existed, as did the blood on Wesley’s face. Before
any of the others could speak, Willow addressed them.
“Wesley,
I would warn you that you really don’t want to be here after the next 24
hours.” The red head announced softly her voice taking on an etherial quality
only a few had heard before. "You have been revealed as a blood enemy to
my clan. That would include my wife, her line, and our mystic family as well.
That includes Angel and Rupert Giles. As a blood enemy if you are in sight of
any of my clan after 24 hours you will face the consequences of your betrayal.
Your life will be an eternity of agony and insanity until you pass from this
realm to the next.”
Everybody
in the room gasped at the Sorceress’ curse except Buffy, she walked up behind
her lover and protector and wrapped her arms around her red-haired soulmate’s
waist. Looking over Willow's shoulder at Wesley, the Slayer gave the frightened
little man a predatory smirk, causing him to let out a small whimper of abject
terror.
Wesley
knew that every minute he spent here put him in further danger, but he knew if
he left he would be of no further use to the people that hired him.
“You
tried to turn the man I call my father against me, you bastard!” the Slayer snarled
her entire body trembling with rage, “You are a lucky man, Wesley Wyndom-Pryce,
if my wife hadn’t been here to stop me I would have broken every bone in your
body, one at a time.”
Wesley
fell back into a chair looking around wild eyed for an ally, his mind reeling
at the sudden way his smugly superior life had fallen apart before his very
eyes.
“You
can’t do this to me!” he yelled his voice cracking with panic and his mind
loosing its’ grip on reality. “I am a Watcher, the Slayer must obey a Watcher,
it’s tradition! You must end this...this unnatural relationship with
that...that...that WITCH! You must return with me to the Council to be
retrained properly. You and your concubine can NOT put curses on me!”
“Oh
my Wesley, you just made a terrible mistake.” Buffy laughed like a child “I
don’t think my wife likes it when a weak, spineless, whiny, bigoted, idiot like
you calls her an unnatural concubine.”
As
the Slayer stepped back, an anything but friendly smile on her face, a green
glowing sphere formed around the little man. Willow began chanting once again
and the sphere's light intensified making it opaque.
The
man inside began screaming in fear, with a sudden burst of blinding bright
light the sphere disappeared taking the offensive little Watcher with it,
leaving only the fading echoes of his terrified screams behind and those faded
quickly.
As
the final echoes of Wesley’s screams died out Willow turned and faced her
friends. She looked around and saw every emotion, from awe to abject fear
written clearly on their faces, and knew she needed to give them an explanation
for her actions and her methods.
The
young witch knew from Cordelia’s reactions after Spike, that both she and her
mate were looked on with a certain amount of fear by their friends.
A
lot of this fear was generated by the shear power the two young women now
wielded since their acceptance of their destinies as The Chosen Ones.
Both
Buffy and Willow had acknowledged that they needed to inform their friends and
allies of their new found powers, and the extent and limitations of their
uses. They knew they owed their friends
whatever reassurances were necessary to allay their fears.
In
short now that the traitor in their midst had been exposed, and dealt with it
was time to come clean, and let everyone know that despite their seemingly
limitless powers, the two were still Buffy and Willow and subject to the same
short-comings and in need of the same help as they always were.
They
just had the means now to deal with the groups’ problems a little better than
before.
They
were also desperate to let their fellow Scoobies know that they were free to
ask either of them or both for whatever help they needed.
As
usual, before either could say anything their friend Xander opened the subject,
with his usual style and grace.
“Whoa...a
light show, and getting rid of Wes-man at the same time,” their oldest friend
exclaimed, “Can you do that trick with my boss, oh say six or seven times, then
I can be an assistant manager at the donut shop.”
They
all laughed at Xander’s reference to his part time job. The pay for rookie cops
wasn’t that good. Well it was okay, if you didn’t want to have a place to live,
to eat, or have a life, that includes a girlfriend, soon to be wife.
With
the mood lightened considerably, Xander asked the question that was nagging him
ever since Cordelia had told him about the melting vampires.
“What
did you do with him?” the young man asked quietly, hoping in his heart his
friends had a favorable explanation, “You didn’t...like...uh...you
know...well...kill him or nothing did ya’ Will?”
With
the question out in the open the tension in the room rose sharply, each member
of the group felt their hidden fears about what the two young women had become,
and if the great powers they had were in anyway turning them into the very
things that the group had joined together to fight.
Even
Dr. Jeffrey could sense the sudden chill in the atmosphere as all four of the
assembled inner-circle watched, and waited anxiously for the Slayer and her
mate’s answer to Xander’s question.
Buffy
and Willow looked at each other for a moment then burst out laughing as they
received each other's thoughts. They hugged each other tightly then returned to
the couch. Like the young people they
were, the two flopped down on the comfortable piece of furniture.
Willow
sat back against the corner formed by the arm and the back of Giles couch and
brought one leg up to lay across the seat, then she pulled her beloved back to
sit between her legs. Buffy leaned back
to rest against her lover and smiled as Willow rested her chin on Buffy’s
shoulder. They were getting comfortable, knowing that once they began
answering, they wouldn’t stop until their friends were at least no longer
afraid of them. It was going to be a long night.
“No
Xander, he isn’t dead.” Willow said giving her wife a sideways glance and a
mischievous smirk, “but I’m not really sure where he is.”
“Really
Willow,” Giles spoke up a little upset at the frivolous manner in which they
were acting “I know he is a worthless little git but if you don’t know where he
is the how do you know he’s not either dead or dying?”
“Weeelll...ya’
see...it’s kind of a wording thing.” Willow admitted timidly. “Ya’ see the
language I used was kind of ambiguous and...so I uh I well kind of
maynothavesenthimexactlywhereIintended.”
They
all sat there staring at each other waiting for someone that spoke fluent
Willow babble to translate. Xander’s eyes suddenly nearly bulged from their
sockets when he realized the meaning of the redhead’s statement.
“Willlll...what
did you do?” Xander asked drawing out his friend’s name like he had when they
were children, causing his life long friend blush deep red while hiding her
head behind her wife's shoulder and giggling. “Come on little Will...tell the
grown ups what you did with the irritating little jerk.”
Willow
peeked out from behind Buffy looking like a little girl playing peek-a-boo.
“Well for one thing, where ever he is, Wesley is totally naked,” The powerful
witch said giggling like a mischievous little child, and looking extremely cute
in the process at least to her wife, “the spell destroys the recipients
clothing. It’s kind of a mystic’s practical joke, it’s not meant to hurt and in
fact it won’t work if there is any danger to the recipient, so I know he’s
safe.
The
only problem is the name of places, and things, don’t always translate
properly.”
“Soooo,
Will,” Xander teasing her like always, now that he realized that while she was
the Great Sorceress, she was still, and would always be his life long friend,
“where did you send the twerp really?”
“It’s
kind of complicated, but Wesley’s either in England at Stonehenge,” Willow
explained shyly “or he’s in Nebraska, at Carhenge.”
The
room exploded with laughter at the young woman’s confession, and the true
comedy of the situation was revealed.
“You
what?!!!” Giles blurted out yelling to be heard over the loud laughter, “How
could you possibly do that? I mean mistake England for Nebraska, or...or the
glorious splender and wonder of Stonehenge for that glorified junkyard in the
middle of no where?!!”
“It’s
not my fault Giles really,” Willow shouted innocently holding her hands up in
surrender “I had to try to think, and cast in visuals, and when I thought of
Stonehenge my mind went back to a show on the Discovery channel, and wham he
was gone. I don’t know if he went to
the original place I meant, or to the picture that was in my mind at the time.
It’s all cable’s fault they shouldn’t show things like that as educational.
Yeah I’m gonna write them a really nasty note tonight.”
“Yeah
right Will,” Xander threw in sarcastically. “I can see the head of programming
now as he reads:
Sir.
I
wish to lodge a complaint, I am a practicing witch known,
as
the Great Sorceress, and because of your program on that ridiculous
place
called Carhenge, I may have teleported a man to the wrong place. I
must
protest. Oh, and can’t you do something about that crocodile
person,
I worry about him.
Oh
that’ll get action...”
The
young man's speech was halted by his renewed uncontrolled laughter.
“Eeeeww..”
Cordelia let out suddenly drawing everyone’s attention, “I just thought of
Wesley naked, eeeeww. Really bad visual place believe me.”
“Yikes!
You got a point Cordy,” Buffy snorted in disgust “can you imagine Wesley, and
the look on his weasely face where ever he is, naked, and screaming like a
girl.
He'll
be lucky if they don’t lock him up somewhere, let alone believe any story he
tries to tell them. I can just hear it. ‘Really officer, a witch put a curse on
me and sent me here like this.’ Yeah, they’ll buy that.”
With
Buffy’s vivid image of what was happening to the man that had lied to them,
manipulated them, and betrayed them, being humiliated and arrested, locked away
for psychiatric examination, the whole group burst out laughing.
They
had a good laugh at the traitor’s expense. The total ridiculousness of the
situation even got a sincere chuckle from the normally serious, Dr. Jeffrey.
It
was almost beyond his imagination that anyone could take the trials, and
tribulations that these people went through and still have any sense of humor
left. Yet here they were laughing at a cosmic, bad practical joke as if nothing
had happened.
He
knew he would probably never understand the small, eclectic band of battle
scarred warriors, but he was sure glad he was given a chance to join them, and
was now given the privilege of calling all of them his friends.
Watching
them now as the laughter died down to a low chuckle, he could only shake his
head in wonder at this group thrown together by the fates. The one time monk
sent up a prayer to his God to ask for his divine protection for the Slayer and
her friends.
Once
everything was back to normal, Buffy turned to look at Giles and decided it was
time to ask once again her question.
“So
Giles-y,” Buffy began her tone falsely bright, “Now that we’ve handled all the
pressing old business, and everyone has been brought up to speed. Don’t you
think it’s time to get back to the business at hand?” Buffy looked over at the
man she considered far more than just a Watcher and mentor, after all they’d
been through and after all the times he had held her, trying to sooth her over
whatever problems she had from the loss of some high school crush up to and
including the murder of a friend.
No,
when her parents had divorced and her father had more or less abandoned her,
then when people she trusted had turned on her because she loved Willow it was
Giles that had held both of them trying to ease their pain.
No,
that was not a friend or a teacher or even a mentor. That by any definition of the
word was her “Dad”.
Not
her father, anyone that could create sperm could be a father, but he was her
“dad”, the man that was there for her and loved her unconditionally, even
loving his child enough to discipline her when she deserved and needed it.
The
stoic Englishman was much more than a friend and she decided it was about time
to show him and everyone else in the room just how she felt.
A
smile crept across her lips as the perfect answer came to her, the perfect way
to let everyone know in no uncertain terms exactly what the relationship was
between Buffy Summers and Rupert Giles.
“Now
*dad* it’s time to fess up.” Buffy said loud enough for everyone there could
hear. “You need to fill us in on who or what this Kaziglu Bey is and what he
has to do with the elusive “Prince of Darkness”.
Giles
sat there stunned for a few minutes looking at his Slayer trying to be sure he
really heard her call him “Dad”, when she turned that beatific smile to him and
he saw the hopeful gleam in her eyes Giles realized that she not only meant to
refer to him as dad but how much it mean to her that he accept her gesture in
the same manor and depth of emotion that she had. This was like an answer to a prayer for Giles and when he
returned Buffy’s smile of quiet complete acceptance, he was so happy he felt
his heart about to burst out of his chest, but on he surface neither of them
acknowledged any more than superficial changes in their conversation.
“Yes
Buffy I think you have the right idea.” He said more in answer to her mention
of his status than to the actual question, “If you will all pay close
attention, this is a long and convoluted tale and it is one I really don’t wish
to repeat often.”
“Okay,
dad.” Willow answered letting both Giles and her wife know that she hadn’t
missed their exchange.
Xander
just smiled at all of them.
[[Yes!]]
he told himself [[it’s about time we all realized we’re just one big, almost,
happy family]]
The
older man held up a hand to stop the Slayer, and looked deep into her intense,
determined hazel eyes. He saw her dedication to her destiny and her need to
once again be able to trust the man she had just called “dad”.
Giles
also caught a glimpse of a tired old soul residing in a young woman whose life
had seen far too much for one so young.
[[I’m
so sorry,]] Giles thought, hoping his remorse would show through. [[I just for
once wish she and Willow would be free of this accursed town and could, at
least for a short time, make believe nothing existed, but them. The Gods know
they deserve it.]]
Giles
shook his head clear of those more pleasant thoughts and returned to the
reality of life of the Slayer on the Hellmouth.
“I
know Buffy,” Giles began letting his shoulders slump in defeat, once again this
place had forced him to break another personal vow. “I know you heard us, the
growth of your powers is amazing and more than a little frightening.”
“That’s
true Giles, but sometimes having these abilities comes in handy, not only did
they allow me to get the truth about Wesley, but I also knew that you had stood
up to that twerp, and was coming out here determined to tell us the truth.”
Buffy said almost whispering “Wills and I knew we could trust you, but we wanted
to trap that bastard before he could hurt any of us anymore.”
Buffy
stopped for a moment to take a deep breath and relax into her wife’s arms then
sat back up ready to begin telling her story. She felt it was important that
the other Scoobs knew and understood why she and Wills had done that to Wesley
at all, and know she had waited until she had proof.
“It
took us a while but we finally figured out that Wesley was a traitor, he was
responsible for the Faith incident.” Buffy hissed between tightly clenched
teeth, “It was really Wesley that turned Faith against us, not the Mayor. We
really had to be sneaky to learn what the little jerk, and his buddies on the
Council were up to. They had planned on Faith taking me out, and possibly
Giles, then once she was alone and vulnerable, Wesley was to take out Faith, so
they could put a new Slayer on the Hellmouth that they could control.”
“How
did you find all that out?” Cordelia asked wondering how the man had managed to
fool her. “And, how long have you known?”
“Research!”
Willow spoke up brightly, relieved that the question of a betrayer in their
midst was finally answered and dealt with, “well that and a little state of the
art technology, enhanced with a little magic. We figured out about the Council
last fall, but Wesley’s part in it didn’t turn up until this Romanian prophecy
showed up. Wesley was so adamant that it wasn't important, telling us all to
just forget about it, that it aroused our suspicion, and when he became so
insistent that nothing was going to happen well...once we had read it and
figured out what was said in it, we knew that Wesley was up to something. It
wasn’t
until
we came up against the power of the curse and felt its connection to our dear
friend, well then we knew something was up and judging by the way everyone was
acting we thought we'd keep quiet until we were sure.”
“Yeah,”
Buffy added, “We had to be extra sure that Wesley was the Council’s spy before
we did anything. Everybody knows how little I think of the little sleaze. I’m
sorry we had to keep you guys in the dark, but well you see, Wills and I know
how to block anyone from our thoughts, but you don’t, if Wesley had been smart
enough to have brought in a telepath, he would have known what we were up to
and then he could cover his tracks.”
“That’s
amazing,” Giles said his eyes reflecting his pride. “Both of you showed
maturity and intelligence in your pursuit of this matter, and followed it
through by the book. No one can question your methods or your conclusions. The
way you handled the entire investigation makes me proud of you, and honored to
call you my friends and students.”
“Oh
Goddess Giles,” Willow scolded the ex-watcher, “your gonna make me cry again.”
“Oh
geeeeez, Will not the water works again.” Xander quipped, “you keep this up and
there’s gonna be a flood.”
“Back
off Xander, or I show everybody those special baby pictures I found when we
moved.” Cordelia threatened her fiancee. “It’s Willow’s prerogative to cry
whenever she feels like it!”
“Hey!”
the young man exclaimed. “That’s not fair those are private pictures and not
everyone is allowed to see them.”
They
all laughed at Xander’s ego problem, some harder than others, until Buffy spoke
up.
“Alright
guys,” Buffy announced. “All this family bonding is great but it’s not helping
us get our research done. Besides I believe our dear old “dad” was going to
fill us in on the information he has.”
“It’s
fine Buffy,” Giles sighed resigned to telling his young charges a story even
they would have a hard time believing. “All I ask is that you hear me out
before passing final judgment can you do that for me?”
“Well
sure Giles,” Willow agreed for the group, “Why would we scoff at any thing
after all these years on a Hellmouth?”
“Just
wait okay?” their mentor emphasized
“Fine,”
Buffy agreed impatiently, “Come on will ya'? It’s got to be good if the all
knowing Council wants it hidden.”
“To
begin with, one of the reasons the Council was hiding it is that it includes
one of the greatest failures in Council history.” Giles began, “But I’m getting
ahead of myself. The first thing you have to understand is that I’m not
speaking of your everyday run of the mill vampires, this is not a corpse being
animated by a demon without a soul.”
“You
have got to be kidding me.” Xander spoke up sarcasm dripping from his words,
“Another dead boy with a soul. That's just what we need.”
Buffy
turned to Xander and glared daggers at her friend at the mentioning of her one
time lover.
“Hey
sorry,” He said seeing her anger, “you already know how I feel and the
possibility of another Angelus I don’t think any of us want that do we Slayer.
I mean according to what I heard this one is even actively seeking his
happiness.”
It
was the dark haired boy’s turn to glare at the petite blonde. Chocolate brown
eyes locked with angry Hazel in a battle of wills. Each feeling the guilt they
carried over what they felt were their personal failures that occurred when
Angelus had terrorized the Hellmouth.
The
two continued to stare at each other neither one willing to concede to the
other. The tension in the room was becoming so thick you could cut it with a
knife.
“If
you don’t mind,” Giles said interrupting the stare down, “I really would like
to get back to my tale of the ‘Prince of Darkness’ and what I have recently
learned about him. Believe me when I tell you that you will never believe what
I have found out about the man the Council refers to as the ‘Kaziglu Bey’.”
With
his timely interruption, Giles had managed to break the confrontational mood
pervading the friends attitude. Once he was sure he had everyone’s attention he
returned to the lecture.
“You
were correct about his involvement in Egyptian and European history, he has
been connected with Julius Ceaser, Alexander the Great, the Emperor Caligula
and many of the more infamous despots. Always as an important part of not only
of their bloody and violent rise to power but in the cultivation of their
darker sides. He was known to be at the side of whomever he was with through
all manor of debauchery and excesses only to disappear just before their
downfall and/or death. Then he
mysteriously disappeared for several hundred years only to reappear as the adopted
son of a Wallachian prince called Vlad Dracul or Vlad the Dragon when he came
to power around the 1430’s.”
“Wait
a minute, I know that name,” Xander spoke out surprised at his own excitement.
“Are you trying to tell us the guy that’s coming here to find his true love is
Dracula! You can’t be serious.”
“No...you
can’t mean that.” Willow echoed grabbing Buffy’s hand and staring dumfounded at
the revelation "Everybody knows that Dracula isn’t real, he’s a-a myth,
isn’t he?”
Buffy
patted her wife’s hand and looked at her mentor in the hope that he would have
the answer that would reassure them all.
“I'm
sorry Willow,” Giles answered wishing he had never had to tell any of them what
he’d learned “Both Vlad Dracul and his successor Vlad Dracula or Tepes as some
called him were very real and far worse than any creature created in literature
or movies.”
“My
dear God,” Jeffrey said just above a whisper, “if this is truly him in all
these histories he’s the oldest recorded vampire ever.”
“Not
exactly Jeffrey,” Giles explained patiently. “He is not the regular vampire. He
is Wampyre the undying, long before our recorded history, this being sought out
the Darkness and through rituals and intensely dangerous majiks he was made
immortal. Like a vampire he needs a certain amount of blood to survive but
unlike his more primitive cousins, not just any blood will do. His sustenance
must be human blood. He isn’t a corpse animated by a demon and he doesn't
become disfigured when he feeds. From all accounts he is tall with a very
aristocratic appearance, and like the Darkness he represents, he is very
seductive.”
“Okay
so he’s not a nice guy.” Xander said trying to lighten the mood, “What makes
him any worse than any of the others.”
“What
you don’t seem to be getting my young friend,” Giles answered becoming
exasperated by the groups failure to grasp the importance of what he was
telling them. “For one thing he is not a vampire, he is far older and wiser
than any of them, his abilities don’t come from some minor demon, his power
comes from the very source of the Darkness itself. For another thing when he took over power from Vlad Dracul and
assumed the throne for a short but bloody reign he proved himself to be one of
the greatest military minds ever, and he has only gotten better.”
“So
what stopped him?” Buffy asked simply, “We find out what stopped him before and
we use it now. So...what was it? Do you know?”
“Yes
I know.” Giles said quietly, “the same thing has stopped him twice but I pray
we won’t have to use it again.”
“So,”
Cordelia asked impatiently. “What’s so horrible that you’d rather not use it
now?”
“Love
and grief.” Giles said so softly they almost didn't hear him.
“What
aren’t you telling us Giles?” Willow asked fearing his answer “I know you don’t
want to finish the story but you're going to have to.”
“I
know Willow, please just give me a minute.” Giles answered his voice raspy from
emotion. “When Vlad Dracula came to power the Wallachia was a part of the
Hungarian Empire that was ruled by the Hunyadi royal family. While Vlad was on
a state visit he met and by some bizarre twist of fate fell in love with a
distant and mentally unstable cousin of the Hunyadi family named Elisabeta. He
asked for her hand and seeing a way to get rid of a potential family scandal
and to help bind the tempestuous Vivode to the throne the couple was given
permission to wed. Shortly after the young couple were called home because of
border problems with the Turks.”
Giles
stopped and took a long drink of his tea. He got up and fixed himself a tall
glass of scotch to fortify his frayed nerves. This particular part of the story
always got to him.
“When
Vlad returned to Wallachia the newlywed didn’t go to war as was expected,
instead he tried to negotiate a peaceful settlement,” Giles continued as he
went back to his chair and sat down heavily. “It was said that his new wife had
requested he try, he apparently doted on her every whim, and for the first time
that anyone can find, he was truly in love. His catering to her was almost as
legendary as his punishments for law breakers.”
“As
your history will tell you the Turks were not known for being a peaceful people
and eventually war broke out. Even though Vlad didn’t wish to leave his fragile
wife his duty insisted that he did and so promising to return he rode off to
face overwhelming odds.
The
ensuing battle was historic for it's ferocity and the tactics of Vlad. Finally
against all odds Vlad won the battle and was returning home. Unfortunately some
Turkish infiltrators murdered Elisabeta to revenge the defeat of their army and
the subsequent execution of all prisoners. So when the triumphant Vivode
returned home he found his beloved wife dead. He went berserk and before his
grief and rage had subsided he had destroyed his home and soaked the earth of
Wallachia with the blood of anyone he found.
Then he disappeared. No one could locate him.”
“By
this time the Watcher’s Council had been formed and the legendary Vlad The
Impaler was high on their list to either find and destroy or prove a myth.
Every bit of power they had was put into the search for the “Prince of
Darkness” or “Kaziglu Bey” which was the name the Turks gave him. Nothing was
heard of the entity and eventually he was considered a myth.”
Giles
took another long drink and looked around at his audience to make sure he still
had their attention. He didn’t want to have to repeat this story ever again.
“Nothing
was heard save a few rumors of someone matching his description visiting some
of the temples in Tibet and the Far East but never anything conclusive.” Giles
finally began again “No serious sightings until the summer of 1888. Then Vlad
Tepes returned to the annals of the Watcher’s Council with a vengeance.”
Judging
by the look in everyone's eyes Giles was sure he had everybody’s undivided
attention.
[[I
certainly hope they pay attention]] the ex-Watcher thought as he took another
long sip of the expensive glass of scotch. [[This is one story I really don't
wish to repeat]]
“In
the late spring of 1886 a new slayer was called.” Giles began, “Her name was
Mina Murray, and before you, Buffy, she was one of the most successful Slayers
of all time. Like you, she too had a "close friend" by the name of
Lucy Westenra, and the journals hint at her having strong supernatural powers,
that she used to assist her Slayer in the same manner as you, Willow. Together
with Mina’s watcher, a Jonathan Harker, they did a remarkable job of holding
back the forces of darkness.”
“That
is, they did until the last part of August in 1888. That was when rumors of an
ancient and powerful vampire had come to London and was creating quite a stir
in the Whitechaple area.”
Giles
stopped to take another drink, then turned back to begin again when he was
interrupted by Cordelia.
“Are
you trying to tell us that this Dracula guy was ‘Jack the Ripper’?” She
inquired.
Everyone
turned and looked at the former May queen surprised that she even knew who
‘Jack the Ripper’ was. “Because if you are then I have to tell you he wasn’t.”
“How
do you know that Cordy?” Xander asked trying unsuccessfully to hide his pride
that his girlfriend not only contributed, but knew something none of them did.
“Where did you learn about the “Ripper”.
“Well,
I know you guys think I’m “Miss Perfect”,” Cordelia stated flatly, “but when I
was in Junior High, I went through this dark phase. All I wore was black, and I
was constantly reading about death, and murders and stuff like that, and the
‘Ripper’ case always intrigued me.”
“So
“C” what makes you think you know who he was,” Buffy asked incredulously. “I’ve
heard hundreds of real detectives have studied that case, and none of them know
for sure who the Ripper really was.”
Cordelia
looked at Giles who looked back at her, and nodded. He already knew the true
identity of Jack the Ripper. He let her have the spot light on this one. Giles
firmly believed the ex-cheerleader earned the right to her moment in the sun.
“I
know because he told me,” she answered smugly.
“What?”
Xander cried out in surprise, and worry, knowing that the woman he loved was
anywhere near some psychopath like that. “When did you meet ‘Jack the Ripper’,
and better yet why didn’t you tell me?”
“Well,
by the time I could have told you it was over,” Cordelia defended, “geez
Xander, Macho much!”
“Sorry
honey.” Xander sighed knowing he was acting like some big dumb, macho
Neanderthalic jock. “It’s just that I worry sometimes, and when I find out you
never told me something like you spent time with Jack the Ripper, it’s kind of
hard not to get upset, ya’ know?”
“I
know my big, strong, protector,” the beautiful young woman purred into her
lover’s ear, causing him to blush outrageously. “I’ll give my big, tough,
bodyguard a closer look at what he’s guarding, later.”
Xander
blushed even more than anyone thought possible, and his girlfriend giggled at
his obvious embarrassment. Buffy and Willow smiled knowingly at the two young
lovers, both happy that their friends had found each other.
“Ah...Cordy...Ahem!”
Buffy finally got the ex-prom queen's attention, and tried to refocus it on the
matter at hand. “Are you going to nail Xander there on the couch, or are you
going to tell us who the Ripper was? One or the other, cause if it’s Xander, I
gotta tell ya’, I am *so*
outta
here.”
“Eeeewww!
Buffy! Bad visual place!” Willow wailed reprimanding her mate. “You gotta stop
doin’ that.”
“Sorry
Wills,” Buffy apologized with a quick kiss. “Won’t happen again.”
“Now,”
the Slayer said turning back to her friends. “Out with it “C”, who was the
famous ‘Jack the Ripper’ so Giles can finish his story. K?”
“Okay,
sorry about that.” Cordilia began, “When Spike took Willow and I hostage, and
Willow was still unconscious, he decided to try to scare me more than I already
was, like I could get more scared. So he began describing all the different
methods he had used to kill others in his long life. While he did that, some of
the descriptions sounded familiar, and while he talked, my mind sorted through
all the information I’d picked up in Junior High, and then it hit me, that he
was describing the Whitechaple murders.”
“So
I asked him and he was real proud that I remembered his work. Then he told me that it was only partly
true, that he was only responsible for three of the murders and that something
far more powerful had killed the very first one, the one that no one is sure
of,
and
the last one. He said the last one was part of an ancient ritual that he wanted
no part of, and that the kind of magics involved would destroy a mere
vampire. So you see, if for no other
reason than he killed most of the women, Spike was Jack the Ripper.”
With
this revelation everyone sat in silence, until Buffy realized that the
scratching sound was Dr. Jeffrey writing in a leather bound book, that looked
like a Watcher’s journal. She narrowed her Hazel eyes, and watched the monk
turned warrior of the Light, and their supposed ally, by order of the Church,
as he wrote feverishly.
Willow
noticed her wife’s distraction, and hostile posture then she followed her gaze till
she saw what was upsetting her lover, and smiled.
“Buffy,”
Willow whispered “kind of reminds you of Giles when he first started doesn’t
it?”
“Yeah
it does,” the Slayer growled suspicions clearly written on her face. “Are you
sure he's not some Council spy?”
“Yes
Buffy, I’m sure,” the young red head told her partner. “I asked him to keep a
record of what happens and what we learn for the church, and for those that
come after us. Like the Watcher’s library, only the whole story, and a truthful
record, instead of forcing what we believe on someone else. Is that alright, I
know I didn’t ask you but I figured you wouldn't mind considering all the nasty
lies we know the Council is going to write about us. Was I wrong?”
Buffy
saw a tear fall from her beloved’s fabulous green eyes, and felt the familiar
tightening in her chest. She reached out and pull her witch to her and gave the
redhead a fierce hug hoping it would help her forget Buffy’s mortality.
“Of
course you did the right thing,” the now teary eyed blonde said “and as usual
for all the right reasons.”
After
that everyone remained silent, thinking about what they’d already learned,
until Dr. Jeffrey finished writing. Then the group turned to Giles as a signal
for him to continue his story.
“Ah...yes
now where was I?” Giles sorting out his thoughts.
“Mina
Murray, Lucy Westenra and Jonathan Harker.” Willow prompted him.
“Yes
that’s right the betrayed ones.” Giles mumbled, before anyone could speak he
held up his hand to stop their questions, “That is how I’ve always seen them,
it’s one of the reasons I've never completely trusted the Council, as the story
goes on you'll understand everything.”
Giles
sat up now that he was once again the focal point of the room. He took a quick
sip of his drink and sighed as the potent amber liquid sent it’s warmth
throughout his system.
“Alright,
now let’s see, I think we can skip through the “normal” occurrences just
suffice it to say that since the main Hellmouth at that time was in London the
Council was able to keep a closer eye on Mina’s behavior.” Giles countenance
darkened as his story progressed. “After a while the Council began to question
the Slayer’s loyalty, along with that of her Watcher.
It
is my belief that Mina, and her friends began to notice the inconsistencies in
the Council’s methods, and were becoming disillusioned much as you were Buffy.
It was then that the Whitechapel murders began.”
“It
is my belief now that the Council had something to do with calling Dracula to
London, and that Martha Tabram was a street person they sacrificed in order to
contact that being. I won’t go into the entire sordid tale, but after several
clashes between Mina and Dracula, Harker was severely injured and confined to
the hospital, Mina Murray had all but abandoned the Council, and Lucy Westenra
was dead. This last being enough to destroy any fighting spirit the poor girl
had left, especially considering Ms. Westenra was killed by a crossbow bolt,
which leads me to believe that it was the Council that murdered the unfortunate
young woman. In the end the Council
called in an old fanatically religious, Watcher who was also a Rabbi named
Abram Vanhelsing. From here everyone believed that the conflict went to the
continent where Dracula was defeated and everyone lived happily ever after.”
“Nothing
could be further from the truth, some persistent researcher kept digging until
he unearthed the original version of Jonathan Harker’s journal. According to
it, the final battle took place in London, and when it was revealed that Mina
Murray was the reincarnated soul of Dracula’s one time love Elisabeta Hunyadi,
Vanhelsing, with the Council’s full knowledge, and consent killed Mina Murray,
in front of Dracula’s very eyes.”
Giles
stopped his story there for a moment while everyone else sat stunned to
silence, he was able to take a long drink of scotch, savoring the calming
effect it had on his over stressed nerves.
Then
the Watcher sat back and waited for the storm of outrage and confused questions
to commence.
He
didn’t have to wait long, and as he guessed it was Willow that spoke first.
“Giles
you mean to tell me that a Watcher murdered a Slayer in cold blood,” Willow
asked her voice strained. “Just to get at some enemy and for no other reason?”
“Oh
Willow, you haven’t been listening.” Giles answered his hate for the Watcher’s
Council clear in his voice “Mina Murray’s murder had nothing to do with Dracula,
neither did the death of Lucy Westenra, or the paralyzing of Jonathan Harker.
It was done in the name of control. Dracula was just a convenient excuse so
that a Slayer with initiative and an independent spirit could be removed from
the Hellmouth and one the Council could control could be put in her place. Van
Helsing now holds a place of honor in the Council’s records and those two brave
young girls are barely a footnote in the archives. In the end, Dracula not only
got away but he got a small measure of revenge, he used a very ancient ritual
to close the Hellmouth and the Council was forced to go in search of the new
active Hellmouth.”
“Wait
a minute you mean to tell me this guy can close a Hellmouth?” Buffy asked
suddenly excited. “Why can’t we do that, I mean if we can close this last
active Hellmouth then we could rest and be like everyone else, couldn’t we?”
Giles
felt sorry for the girl. She thought she had found a ray of hope, and he had to
crush it. He always hated this part of his calling.
“No
Buffy, we can’t do that.” Giles told his Slayer, “Do you think for a minute I
would not close the damnable thing if I had a way to do it, a humane way?”
“What
do you mean humane?” Willow asked now curious
Giles
got into a file marked Ripper, Jack T. and pulled out two sheets of paper.
One
was a description of the last crime scene of the final Whitechaple murder, the
second was a series of photographs of the scene and the victim before she was
moved.
As
Willow read she became very pale and when she looked at the pictures the
sensitive young woman dropped the papers and ran to the bathroom, where
everyone heard her loose the contents of her stomach.
Buffy
picked up the papers and looked them over to see why her partner was so
affected by them. Even the Slayer paled as she looked at the papers.
“My
god Giles, this is just sick,” the petite blonde who had killed vampires and
demons without a second thought said. “What the hell is this?”
Giles
held up his hand stalling the outraged Slayer until they were joined once again
by a very pale Willow.
“That
is the official report and crime scene photographs of the final so called,
Ripper murder, a Ms. Mary Jane Kelly,” he said trying to keep the revulsion
from his voice. “Those are the files the Council has, not the cleaned up
version the police have. That, Willow, is why I can’t use the same spell
Dracula used to close the Hellmouth. No matter how bad it gets I could never do
that to a person. Oh did I mention that the sacrifice is kept alive and conscious
through the entire ordeal.”
“Dear
sweet Goddess,” Willow whispered her voice quavering in shock, “how can
anything do that to any being just to perform a ritual.”
“Hey
don’t forget babe we’re dealing with something way more evil then we’re used to.”
Buffy said sitting down next to her wife, “I guess that kind of thing is what
makes it evil.”
“Precisely”
Giles answered for Willow, “no human with a spark of decency in them and in
their right mind, could do something like that to another human. Only someone
so completely immersed in the Darkness that their humanity ceases to exist
would ever consider doing something like this.”
“So
what do we do to stop this thing,” Willow asked “and which one of us is the
reincarnation of Elisabeta Hunyadi?”
All
eyes were once again focused on Giles as he tried to find a way to tell them
his news or rather lack of it.
“Well
you see that’s where this gets difficult,” the ex-Watcher began. “Going through
the old records it would seem that Mina Murray and Dracula’s Elisabeta were
mirror images of each other and using that as our criteria then to be honest
neither. Neither of you even come close to the descriptions of either one of
them. Of course it would be easier if we had a picture of either of them to
work with, but as far as I can tell there are no images of either left in
existence.”
“So
what do you know?" Willow asked her analytical mind working overtime on
the puzzle. “If we have any way to dig up any accounts of Dracula’s time in
London, then maybe we can figure out what's going on here.”
Giles
watched as the focus of the room shifted from him to the young witch, it caused
a fatherly grin of pride to spread across his face. His feelings for the two
young women were well known to everyone in the group and a few on the outside
as well. Joyce had even gone so far as to put Giles down as well as herself as
emergency contact on all Buffy and Willow’s paper work.
Xander
and Cordelia had slowly just become part of the family as time went by,
Xander’s parents had emotionally abandoned him early in his childhood and he
had kind of drifted along without a caring guiding influence.
Then
Buffy and Giles came along and soon after Xander and Willow had joined them in
the fight, after their first year as a team the father/daughter relationship
between Giles and Buffy had begun to show.
It
wasn’t long after that when Xander started going to Giles with personal
problems that were completely unrelated to Slaying.
After
that without much fuss or notice Giles was fulfilling the paternal part of the
young man’s life. When Xander’s alcoholic parents finally went too far and beat
the boy so badly he ended up in the hospital,
Giles
quietly took over and using his connections became Xander’s legal guardian
moving the boy into his home until he found his own place.
Although
Giles put up his stoic Englishman front all the Scoobies knew they always had
someone they could rely on when the chips were down.
Cordelia
had become family at first by her dating Xander in High school, then after the
two had broken up the ex-Watcher had made it perfectly clear that she was
considered part of the group if she wished.
It
was left like that even after she moved to L.A., Giles had kept tabs on her
making sure she was alright and after she moved back they had accepted her with
open arms. Now she was living with Xander and they were talking marriage.
He
surveyed his eclectic little “family” and felt a warm feeling in his heart for
them. He was also glad that Joyce had taken up the reigns as the “mother” of
this brood. He and the mother of his Slayer had been dating quite sometime now
and unknown to the “kids” the couple were also considering matrimony.
Dr.
Jeffrey said something to Willow and the laughter drew Giles attention to the
newest family member. Jeffrey Fallon was older than the others by a few years,
but when it came to any kind of life outside of books the man was a complete
babe in the woods.
So
while he was older in years and education than the other kids, they were light
years ahead of him in experience with real life both normal and supernatural.
However when it came to research or some obscure demonic ailment there was no
one better. Giles was going through these thoughts when he suddenly realised
someone was calling his name.
“Giles,
Giles,” Buffy called growing impatient with the man’s inattention to what was
being discussed, “Giles---HEY DAD!!!”
Giles
jumped in his chair startled from his thoughts when Buffy called him by his new
name. An embarrassed grin formed on his face when he realized how out of it he
was.
“Ah
yes quite,” he said looking guilty, “sorry I was...ah...thinking about the
logistics of our situation.”
“Ah,
yeah...okay.” Buffy answered her disbelief clearly showing. “Anyway, it’s
pretty clear that we’re working in the dark with this.”
“So
it would seem that what is necessary here is some serious research.” Giles said
belaboring the obvious. “And as I’m sure the person best suited to assigning
that task is Willow. Are there any questions or comments?”
“Y-yes
I have one.” Dr Jeffrey said timidly still uncertain of his position in the
group. “I think it is very important that none of us, not even the Slayer
should go anywhere alone, day or night. If I am not mistaken according to the
Stoker novel, that Willow assures me, is a dramatization of real events,
Dracula can go out in the daylight, it’s just that his powers are drastically
curtailed until sunset, at which time he is at full strength."
“That’s
right and a very good point Jeffrey,” Willow agreed especially pleased that
someone besides her brought up the point. She just knew she was going to like
this new guy, even if he did smell of Rome. “This guy is a real wild card in
the deck, and since we know so little about him it makes sense to take a few
extra precautions. Please honey, just until we know what we're dealing with.”
“Okay,
Wills, if that will make you happy,” Buffy acquiesced gracefully knowing this
was a fight she couldn’t win, “I’ll even ease up on the patrols. How’s that?”
“Thank
you,” the relieved redhead sighed and wrapped her arms around her blonde
lover’s neck pulling her into a deep kiss successfully embarrassing their
friends
“I’m
just afraid this guy might have something up his sleeve that we don’t know
about and I don’t want to lose you from lack of research, K?”
“Alright
I already agreed,” Buffy commented with a smile, “so save all this persuasion
for later when...”
The
mischievous blonde leaned over and whispered into her other half’s quickly
reddening ear causing Willow’s green eyes to grow wide and her skin to become
scarlet from the neck up.
“BUFFY!”
Willow squealed suddenly. “How could you...there’s no way I’m letting
you...ah...well there’s no way. Besides even you can’t bend like that.”
Buffy
laughed then grabbed the last slice of pizza and stood up. Then she leaned down
and whispered something else into her wife’s ear. When she finished whispering she
quickly kissed the now bright red witch and looked her in the eyes and waggled
her eyebrows.
“Oh
my Goddess what you do to me.” Willow sighed and began fanning herself with a
folder from the coffee table.
“Well
you can tell me later, after” Buffy laughed, “but for now I need something else
to drink, any one else, speak now or get it yourself.”
The
small blonde powerhouse spun on her heel and headed toward her Watcher’s
kitchen her mind on a YooHoo she’d seen earlier. <>If that Xander got my last YooHoo again I swear<>
Buffy threatened mentally<>I’ll tear his tongue out and then...<>
Buffy
didn't get to finish the thought as a familiar voice roared in her head.
<>BEWARE
SLAYER<> the voice warned <>THE SORCERESS IS TO BE ATTACKED<>
Buffy
turned, her errand to the kitchen a thing of the past and moved as quickly as
she could to her Willow’s side vaulting over a stunned Giles to get there.
“Really
Buffy,” her watcher began to scold her for her antics “if you wish to practice
your acrobatics I wish you would...”
He
was cut off when Willow suddenly stood and swayed on her feet as if she was
going to fall, which she would have if Buffy hadn’t been there.
“Giles
something isn't right.” Willow hissed as Buffy slowly lowered the seemingly
entranced witch to sit on the couch with Buffy kneeling next to her.
Her
bright green eyes seemed to be staring off some where in the distance, and her
voice took on a far away quality as she spoke again.
“I
can feel it...it’s him...he’s searching for a weakness...he’s wanting to find
something,” she said her body flinched as if she was being struck. “I can’t
tell…if...it’s....here....and........he’s....wait something isn’t right I can’t
keep this up. No wait Giles we need to...Aaaaarrrghhhhhh!!!”
Willow
grabbed her head and screamed in agony as a horrible pain lanced through her
skull threatening to blow it apart.
Buffy
pulled her wife to her chest and began rocking her gently and stroking her soft
red hair as her lover cried out in pain. “Wills, baby what's wrong?” Buffy
asked the anguish clear in her voice, she looked up at Giles trust shining in
her hazel eyes as tears of fear and desperation flowed from them. “Giles help
her.”
Giles
wasn’t sure what to do or if he could do anything but his love for the two
young women wouldn’t allow him to just stand there. He did the same thing
helpless fathers have done since the dawn of time when their children were
afraid and in pain, he leapt to their side and wrapped his arms around both of
them and held them close sheltering them as best he could.
Jeffrey
was right behind him and he immediately began examining Willow while her lover
held on to her and Giles held onto them both.
After
a few moments Jeffrey went to his bag and returned carrying a large rose colored
quartz carved into the shape of a she wolf curled up around her pups guarding
them.
Willow’s
cries had calmed to a low constant keening wail as the two most important
people in her life held her, surrounding her with unconditional and protective love.
Their presence seemed to ease the unendurable agony exploding in her head.
She
felt more than heard Jeffrey kneeling in front of her as he gently but firmly
pulled her hands away from her head placing them on a cool comforting
sculpture.
The
sculpture’s peace and cool tranquillity seemed to flow into her body letting
her relax.
“Hold
this Sorceress.” Jeffrey said, in his soft yet firm doctor’s voice as Willow
called it. “Clear your mind and follow where the crystal leads you. It will
take you to a quiet tranquil place where the pain can’t reach you.”
As
he spoke Willow’s cries eased until they were gone entirely. The quartz in her
hands glowed brightly with a soft rose tinted aura that reached and engulfed
both young women.
Giles
felt his two “daughters” relax and released his hold on them. He straightened
up and went over next to Jeffrey who was writing the experience down in the
journal he was keeping for Willow.
Everyone’s
attention was on the couple wrapped around each other on the couch surrounded
by a glowing rose- colored aura.
“Any
idea on what attacked her?” Giles asked the doctor, “As many wards that she and
I have placed around our houses I don’t understand how anything could have
gotten past them.”
“I
have no idea what was after her.” Jeffrey said, shaking his head and holding up
a strange looking implement that was glowing steadily. “Your wards were
attacked alright and I believe that is why the Sorceress still lives, but they
still stand and with a few things I’ve learned over the years I think I can
reinforce them so this won’t reoccur.”
“Thank
you Jeffrey.” Giles uttered gratefully, “I don’t know what I’d do if anything
happen to my girls.”
“That’s
what I’m here for my friend,” the young former monk told the distraught man placing
a sympathetic hand on his shoulder, “I’m just glad I could help.”
Everyone
was still focused on the couple on the couch when a soft feminine voice came
from behind them startling all four of the observers.
“You’ve
done well doctor” the voice said. “But they require more assistance than you
are capable of giving them in order to face this challenge, my friends. This
means you must do without them for a time.”
They
all turned to see a regal looking blonde woman, wearing a beautiful forest
green gown and matching cloak with silver trim. Her blonde hair was loosely
braided and allowed to hang to her waist with a small tight braid at her left
temple.
She
smiled brightly at the four other people in the room and a feeling of warm,
powerful, yet comforting, energy warmed the room, radiating from the woman
whose light blue eyes glowed softly reminding them of a summer sky. She was a
vision of peace and serenity.
“Welcome
Lady Brigit,” Jeffrey said reverently as he bowed respectfully to the woman,
“We are honored by your presence.”
“Yeah
well we’re not here for you little man,” a husky yet intensely feminine voice,
with a haunting Irish lilt, said from the shimmering space behind Brigit.
“We’re here to care for our little sisters and I’ll not be tolerating any
interference.”
The
owner of the second voice stepped out from behind Brigit and her presence
grabbed everyone’s attention.
She
was nearly six feet of graceful predator, with wild fiery red hair, beautifully
chiseled features and cold green eyes that seemed to pierce anyone she looked
at to the soul revealing their darkest secrets.
She
was dressed all in black leather with two long wicked looking knives hanging on
either side of her heavy leather belt.
This
was the Morrigan in all her fierce deadly glory and when she saw the Slayer and
her Sorceress and the distress they were in, Morrigan went into full protective
mode. Both Giles and Jeffrey were driven back with a single glare from her
angrily flashing green eyes.
“What
my other means,” Brigit said quietly as she stepped up next to Morrigan and
placed a calming hand on the bristling red headed warrior's shoulder. “Is that
if we don’t prepare the Slayer and her Sorceress, a great evil might be loosed
on the world.”
Calmed
by her other’s touch, Morrigan focused her attention on Buffy and Willow. She
took one of Buffy’s hands and gently stroked Willow’s hair trying to sooth the
still sobbing youngster and her obviously worried and frightened partner.
“Ye’ll
be comin’ wit us little ones.” Morrigan whispered softly, her concern caused
her accent to be more pronounced, “It’ll be lovely sparrin’ wit ya’ again
Slayer darlin’.”
“Can
you help her Morrigan?” Buffy asked sounding like a small trusting child, tears
falling in streams down her face. “S-she’s hurting so bad a-and I c-couldn’t
m-make it go away, s-she w-w-wouldn’t l-let me in.”
Morrigan
looked up into the light blue eyes of her other half asking silently. Brigit
gave the redhead a knowing smile and knelt down to take both younger women in
her arms.
“Hush
now little ones,” the serene and comforting blonde said, “it is time to come
with us. There is much to learn and very little time.”
Buffy
stood up still cradling her beloved wife in her arms. She looked deep into the
flashing green eyes of her friend and legendary teacher and saw the spark of
hope in them.
“We
are going with our sisters Giles,” Buffy informed her watcher her eyes never
leaving Morrigan’s, “we will return when it is time.”
“What
of you wizard?” Morrigan asked loudly her eyes never leaving Buffy’s, “will you
be going to support our sisters. Or are ya’ leavin’ them to fight alone as your
kind always does?”
Before
anybody could speak the resonant voice of Lugh filled the room.
“Speak
not my brother,” the voice instructed. “Your time is not now. Morrigan, bring
your little sisters *they* require your strength now.”
With
Willow still cradled in Buffy’s powerful arms and Morrigan and Brigit’s arms
around Buffy’s shoulders the four women walked toward the hallway. The air
around them seemed to ripple and with a swarm of twinkling lights that looked
like a thousand fireflies the quartet disappeared leaving behind four friends that
had absolutely no idea what was going on...all but one that is.
+++++++++++++
END BOOK ONE
TBC IN BOOK 2
+++++++++++++