A/N: Alright, first Buffy fic. I admit, I haven't planned much for it, so this first chapter is mainly just a taste of what's to come. I promise that future ones will be longer. I would highly appreciate reviews, telling me what you guys think. Don't be afraid to criticize; it's the only way I'll know if I'm getting anything wrong. Plus, my continuity of the story kind of depends on the feedback I get, but I will try my absolute hardest to update regularly.

I don't own Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I'm just writing fanfiction about it. Again, please review, and I hope you enjoy!

In the Land of Lost Souls

by Cecilia Green

Prologue

I used to be so great. You know what I was called? "King of the Vampires." The one who had stood before the Master and took what he thought was his. I had it all – the girl, the power, the loyal followers. Now you might ask yourself, "What went wrong?" I can tell you.

A goddamn curse.

Over a hundred years of feeding off of vermin and sleeping in my own filth. I don't think anyone existed at that point who had sunk as low as I had. After that, I decided to clean myself up, get together with some Slayer. As disgusting as it was, it turned out to be the best decision that I ever made. Sure, I ended up getting stabbed with a sword and burning in Hell, but then my mistake came to set me free. She set her ring down at the place of my death. That ring – my tether to that reality – it brought me back from the torment and the inferno.

I was wild, confused, and animalistic. Heck, I didn't even remember who I was. Eventually, my memories came back, and I could've gone back to living in my little room in Sunnydale. I could've even tried to salvage my relationship with Buffy, but I didn't. And if you're wondering why, then I can tell you with this one simple fact. The thing about Hell is that it tends to burn away the soul.

I was back. I was bloodthirsty. I was out for revenge.

I was burning. The fire, the unbearable heat, scorched through my skin and pierced what was left of my heart like a white-hot knife. The pain wormed through my head, making it impossible to form a coherent thought. All I could process was the agony.

If there was anything left of my body, I would have writhed. If I had any lungs left, I would have screamed. But there was nothing, nothing in me but the fire. I couldn't see, think, or smell. I could only endure.

Then, out of the fire and the pain, I heard something. Actually heard for the first time in what felt like centuries. It was a girl's voice, so soft and fragile, and it rung through space with surprising clarity. "Goodbye," it said. After that, there was a small clink sound, like metal touching stone. I could see then. After getting over the initial surprise of being able to see, I realized what I was looking at. It was a ring. My ring, I realized. It started to shake, the spin on the floor. The faster it vibrated, the more this strange feeling spread through me.

I felt cold; I felt solid; I could feel my body taking form, and then there was an explosion of white light and a blast of cool air, and I was falling.

I landed on the floor. For a moment I could neither see nor feel. I was just numb. Then, the sensations slowly came back to me, and I could tell that I felt sick. Unbelievable nausea clouded in my mind, alongside confusion and coldness. I was vaguely aware that I was shivering and gasping, trying to breathe, but no air came. I realized then that I couldn't breathe, but that didn't seem to matter. I tried to get up, but my arms and legs were limp and useless. I raised my head weakly and looked around. My vision was shattered, and clouded with red and black, but I was able to see a marble floor and unlit torches lining the walls.

It took me a while, but eventually, I was able to think. Single words came to me at a time. Fire – Hell – Sick – Hungry. That last word stuck in my head. My eyes bulged and I began to salivate. Hungry. So, so hungry. I began to crawl, to drag my body towards what looked like the exit. My hand connected with a small object, sending it skittering across the floor. I snapped my head in the direction of the sound. Everything was so loud. I scrambled over to the object and poked it with quivering fingers. New words came into my head. Ring. Claddagh. Finally, Buffy.

Then, Kill.