From: Krac
Title: Dark Knights: The Fallen
Series/Sequel: Possibly I haven't made up my mind.
Author: Krac
E-mail: krac_babee@l...
Rating: R
Summary: Bad things happen to good people. Close your eyes if you
can't deal with it. Major amounts of death.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the BTVS Characters, Joss Whedon, The
WB and Mutant Enemy own them, etc, etc. I only own the story and any
original characters I create along the way.
Distribution: Ask me first.
Feedback: Does Riley love cows? Hell yes!
Spoilers: None I've ignored this season, Buffy gives me the heebie
jeebies. I'd go so far to say I despise her so when she appears it
won't be pretty.
Author's Note: I was in a bad place so I started this. I don't know
if I'll get to the squel but I have one planned.
Dark Knights: The Fallen
All he could feel was the soothing ache of tiredness in his bones as
he walked down the street. The overwhelming fear, the wary alertness
of his youth-they were long gone-and in their place was a growing
sense of apathy. It had all meant something to him, fighting the
good fight; doing whatever he could to keep the darkness at bay.
Searching his mind and heart he tried to pinpoint the moment he
simply stopped caring. He couldn't, that was a fact that frightened
him more than anything the night could throw at him. In his mind he
was only two steps and several bottles of cheap whiskey away from
being his father.
Shaking his head to clear that thought the young man snorted at his
own flight of fancy; as if a man of flesh and blood could hold more
horror than all the things he had witnessed lurking in the darkness.
One thing whirled in his addled brain, They don't have souls-he
does. The essential difference, the reason why he could never be
free. If a vampire is nothing more than the sum of the demon within
it-what was he? The screw up only child of an alcoholic, wife beater-
the sum of the chromosomes his parents had `blessed' him with.
The distant yowling of a cat interrupted his brooding and that dark
place inside him surged with anger wanting to find the animal and
wring it's neck. No matter how hard he tried to fight it, that dark
place was getting stronger every day while the rest of him weakened.
After almost six years he was too tired to fight it down any longer.
He didn't hear the movement behind him in the shadows; or perhaps he
could and did nothing. Hands grasped his head with shocking force.
It only took seconds to decide fighting was useless. Conciously he
tilted his neck-knowing full well what creature had claimed him. The
pricking at his jugular was less painful then he had imagined, almost
gentle. His body grew weak as the vampire fed from him, his eyes
rose heavenwards towards the bright stars dotting the skies. But
those cold specks of far off gas did nothing to help him, as he did
nothing to help himself.
A dark coppery taste filled his senses and the stars dimmed for a
second before flaring into brightness beyond words. A smile creased
his lips as he realized just what was happening to him. The dark
part of himself was rushing up to meet the rest of him and it felt
better than anything he had ever experienced. Alexander Harris met
death with a smile on his face.
******************
Jerking upwards animation came back into the new vampire's limbs. A
hunger unlike anything he had ever felt tore through every inch of
him-but he felt so incredibly alive that he had to laugh.
"What's so funny?" A sour voice called from near at hand.
Sitting up he faced his `sire' and smiled darkly, "The irony that I
feel more alive dead, than I ever did when I was alive."
The older vampire shrugged his shoulders and shook his head at his
newest progeny wondering why he had bothered to turn this one
anyway. Standing up he felt uncomfortable, "I'm Doug. I brought
something back for you. You're always hungriest when you first rise."
Those dark eyes were riveted on Doug's back and he had to admit he
had never felt afraid of one of his childer before. Something about
this one was different, usually they spent days wailing-adjusting to
their new life. Doug knew he had done so three years before when he
had been taken. He still couldn't explain that rich, dark taste in
this guy's blood; Doug didn't like it but couldn't stop himself from
drinking more of it. Shaking off his thoughts Doug hauled the girl
he had captured to her feet and dragged her to his offspring. He
smiled as the girl walked almost willingly toward those dark
eyes. "Bon apetit."
A sardonic smile twisted the new vampire's lips as he held out a hand
to the girl before him. Who, despite her quivering lip and ragged
breathing seemed almost to desire her new fate. He could smell her
fear and quickly decided that a woman could wear no finer perfume
than sheer terror. Pulling her into his arms he embraced her frail
human body; a whimper escaped her. The vampire kissed her lips
gently to quiet her, "Don't worry, Little one. It won't hurt, ever
again."
Softly he moved his lips from her's, trailing his tongue seductively
down her throat until it rested above her hammering pulse. He could
feel his fangs grow as he shifted between his human face and his
demonic visage, and in the next second they were buried in the girl's
creamy skin. The first wave of blood hit his taste buds, sending a
shudder of exultation through him rather than the disgust he had
imagined feeling.
Draining her body quickly he dropped the empty vessel to the ground
while Doug stared wide-eyed. Recovering himself Doug smiled at his
child, "Pretty smooth man. So you got a name?"
Turning he measured the one who had brought him over with darkened
eyes. It seemed appropriate that one so lowly should sire him,
greatness had to start somewhere. Without hesitation he knew that
the power surging in his veins along with the borrowed blood did not
come from this creature. It-Doug-was merely a tool. The power came
from him-the dark place he had ignored for so long.
Quickly he moved, grasping Doug by the throat and bending his neck-
forgoing the gentility he had shown the girl, he drained his sire.
At first the older vampire offered a struggle but as his blood flowed
into his child he grew weaker. Doug realized that he was dying
again, and just like that first time nothing had changed. He was as
helpless as the human he had watched die moments before. Pulling
away the younger vampire smiled his fangs glistening with blood; "My
name…is Alex."
That was the last thing Doug heard before turning to dust in his
child's gentle hands. Licking his lips, Alex shifted back to his
human face and smiled at the dust covering his hands. Clapping
sounded out of the shadows and he whirled, snarling toward it. "Very
good, Alex. You just won me twenty bucks."
He heard a match scrape and a flame illuminated a thin young woman's
face as she lit her cigarette. Using his new strength Alex lunged at
her and caught her by the throat in the same manner he had his sire.
Lifting her hand over his arm she took a drag of the cigarette and
smiled, "You don't want to eat me-I taste awful." A faint British
accent tinted the words but before he could reply, her even features
shifted revealing a set of raised horns, grey coloured skin and
glowing green eyes.
Letting go as if scalded Alex demanded warily, "What the hell are
you?"
Again the face returned to it's bland, forgettable appearance-one you
could easily lose in a crowd. The eyes glowed for a spilt second
then became a warm, mild brown. "Hell is right," she flicked her
cigarette ashes on the ground to join the hapless Doug. "We've been
watching you for years Alex, you always showed such stunning…" she
stepped over the body of the girl, "Potential."
"Potential for what?" Alex prowled feigning disinterest in the
demon's message.
Taking another drag of the ciggarette she smiled lightly as if
explaining everything, "Destruction, dear boy."
Alex shook his head, "Why is it that anyone with anything to do with
the `supernatural' goes out of their way to be vague?"
"Well to be less vague," She drawled and dropped the ciggarette on
the ground and crushed it violently with her toes, "Destruction. The
act of destroying all those warm fuzzy things humans enjoy so much,
like life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
"Oh well, that explains everything so clearly thank you nameless
demon for all your wisdom. If I need anymore of it I'll look you up
under `indistinct information and useless facts'." Alex supressed
his yawn.
The little smile on her face grew fainter as she moved close to him.
Before Alex could react the demon's hand darted out and grabbed him
tightly by the testicles, "Your sarcasm is not appreciated at this
point in time. I suggest that you put it away until it is actually
required."
Shifting slightly Alex smiled uncomfortably almost enjoying the
pressure being applied to his groin, "They sure do teach you to be
ball busters, don't they?"
"No one had to teach me anything," she purred and moved closer to his
body, "I've been around long enough to pick up a few tricks."
Power shifted between them and despite the pain Alex spun her around,
pulling her body close while placing both hands on her neck ready to
break it if necessary, "Should I let you learn some more?"
Her eyebrows rose, "Only a masochist would challenge me."
"I've never really been into pain for pleasure," Alex breathed in her
hair unable to decide if he should listen to the demon or kill her.
"Pain is pleasure and pleasure is pain," her arms reached upwards and
twisted Alex's back away from her body, "Live long enough and you'll
know they are one and the same."
Letting him go and moving away she straightened her shirt
delicately, "Now if we're finished with the flirting, there's a bit
of business to clear up here before you go on with your unlife."
"All business already? You haven't even told me your name yet." Alex
sauntered over to a chair and draped himself in it halfhazardly.
"I haven't had a name in millennia. Naming something gives you power
over it, makes that thing your own." She sighed and looked deep into
his eyes, "I have been called Adesina," she fidgeted uncomfortably
and looked down, "I always thought that it was pretty- not to mention
appropreate."
"Why is that?" Alex found the demon's discomfort endearing.
"It means `the way is open for more'." She shook off the ghost of
fraility, "In the beginning there were only higher beings. In due
time one of those beings rebelled against the will of the being you
think of as `God'. War ensued and those who rebelled with `Lucifer'
were cast down to earth and punished-they became the first demons."
"And how do you fit in? I am assuming you fit in if you're telling me
all of this. I'd hate for it to be a wasted story." Alex sat up
interested.
She smiled, "I was the first to take Lucifer's side. Now for the part
of the story involving you."
Alex clapped his hands, "Always a good subject, talking about me."
"As you are well aware people are sometimes chosen to fulfill a
higher destiny like the slayer." Adesina ignored the flash of boredom
on Alex's face; "Of course `God', believing in fairness and all both
sides can have their chosen."
"And this is the part where I lose interest and tell you to stuff
the `higher destiny' bullshit, Des." The vampire unfolded himself and
rose to his feet to tower over the demon, "I just want to enjoy my
unlife, I've spent too many years of my life letting people tell me
what to do and how to do it. That stops now, I just want to go about
the business of wreaking havoc in the world without the burden of
fate on my shoulders."
Shouldering past Adesina, he walked toward the only door he could see
leading out of the room. Alex placed his hand on the knob and tried
to turn it but nothing happened. Jangling it forcefully Alex snarled
at the uncooperative door then whirled on the demon behind him, "Let
me out."
"Not until I'm satisfied that you understand the opportunites being
presented to you, Alex. This doesn't mean you have to take oders
from anyone, in case you weren't listening I don't take well to
authority either. All it means is that I help you wreak all the
havoc you can handle in accordance with the bigger picture." Adesina
cocked an eyebrow, "No strings."
Alex glowered as he mulled it over in his mind, "No strings? No
hidden agendas? No waiting until the last minute in things that
affect me?"
"I'm too old to play games," Adesina replied, "I said no strings, I
meant it."
Teeth flashed as Alex offered her a blinding smile, "Good, I don't
like bondage. We'll give this a try."
"Too bad." A smile quirked Adesina's lip, "So, tell me where you'd
like to start, the Hellmouth is your oyster."
A frown creased his forehead; "A soul…When Buffy and Willow find out
they'll try to restore my soul. That has to be stopped. I really
don't want to spend eternity moping like Angel. So I guess we kill,
Willow so she can't cast the spell."
"Already thought of that," the demon reached into her coat pocket and
drew a glass orb from it, "Do you know what this is?"
Alex's eyes lit, "An orb of Thessila."
"Actually," Adesina grinned looking distinctly human, "It's one of
the only two orbs of Thessila left."
Alex casually walked to Adesina and plucked the orb from her hands.
He stared at it for a few brief seconds, then let it drop to the
floor. Glass shattered at their feet and Alex ground one of the
bigger pieces into dust under his heel. "Oops."
"Now, anything else?" the demon breathed shifting closer to the
vampire.
A dark grin creased his features; "I've got one or two ideas."
**************
Shadows nipping at her heels Dawn pulled her sweater closer to her
body. She knew better, Buffy had reproached her many a time about
walking home alone after dark. Despite everything she had seen and
expericened, Dawn still possessed the sense of invincibility native
to the young.
Lifting her head Dawn widened her eyes to admire the bright sky above
her, never had the stars appeared so full and clear to her eyes. A
hand clamped over her mouth before she could move her thoughts any
further. She felt a prick at her neck, then Dawn's whole world
turned black as she fell.
Title: Dark Knights: The Fallen
Series/Sequel: Possibly I haven't made up my mind.
Author: Krac
E-mail: krac_babee@l...
Rating: R
Summary: Bad things happen to good people. Close your eyes if you
can't deal with it. Major amounts of death.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the BTVS Characters, Joss Whedon, The
WB and Mutant Enemy own them, etc, etc. I only own the story and any
original characters I create along the way.
Distribution: Ask me first.
Feedback: Does Riley love cows? Hell yes!
Spoilers: None I've ignored this season, Buffy gives me the heebie
jeebies. I'd go so far to say I despise her so when she appears it
won't be pretty.
Author's Note: I was in a bad place so I started this. I don't know
if I'll get to the squel but I have one planned.
Dark Knights: The Fallen
All he could feel was the soothing ache of tiredness in his bones as
he walked down the street. The overwhelming fear, the wary alertness
of his youth-they were long gone-and in their place was a growing
sense of apathy. It had all meant something to him, fighting the
good fight; doing whatever he could to keep the darkness at bay.
Searching his mind and heart he tried to pinpoint the moment he
simply stopped caring. He couldn't, that was a fact that frightened
him more than anything the night could throw at him. In his mind he
was only two steps and several bottles of cheap whiskey away from
being his father.
Shaking his head to clear that thought the young man snorted at his
own flight of fancy; as if a man of flesh and blood could hold more
horror than all the things he had witnessed lurking in the darkness.
One thing whirled in his addled brain, They don't have souls-he
does. The essential difference, the reason why he could never be
free. If a vampire is nothing more than the sum of the demon within
it-what was he? The screw up only child of an alcoholic, wife beater-
the sum of the chromosomes his parents had `blessed' him with.
The distant yowling of a cat interrupted his brooding and that dark
place inside him surged with anger wanting to find the animal and
wring it's neck. No matter how hard he tried to fight it, that dark
place was getting stronger every day while the rest of him weakened.
After almost six years he was too tired to fight it down any longer.
He didn't hear the movement behind him in the shadows; or perhaps he
could and did nothing. Hands grasped his head with shocking force.
It only took seconds to decide fighting was useless. Conciously he
tilted his neck-knowing full well what creature had claimed him. The
pricking at his jugular was less painful then he had imagined, almost
gentle. His body grew weak as the vampire fed from him, his eyes
rose heavenwards towards the bright stars dotting the skies. But
those cold specks of far off gas did nothing to help him, as he did
nothing to help himself.
A dark coppery taste filled his senses and the stars dimmed for a
second before flaring into brightness beyond words. A smile creased
his lips as he realized just what was happening to him. The dark
part of himself was rushing up to meet the rest of him and it felt
better than anything he had ever experienced. Alexander Harris met
death with a smile on his face.
******************
Jerking upwards animation came back into the new vampire's limbs. A
hunger unlike anything he had ever felt tore through every inch of
him-but he felt so incredibly alive that he had to laugh.
"What's so funny?" A sour voice called from near at hand.
Sitting up he faced his `sire' and smiled darkly, "The irony that I
feel more alive dead, than I ever did when I was alive."
The older vampire shrugged his shoulders and shook his head at his
newest progeny wondering why he had bothered to turn this one
anyway. Standing up he felt uncomfortable, "I'm Doug. I brought
something back for you. You're always hungriest when you first rise."
Those dark eyes were riveted on Doug's back and he had to admit he
had never felt afraid of one of his childer before. Something about
this one was different, usually they spent days wailing-adjusting to
their new life. Doug knew he had done so three years before when he
had been taken. He still couldn't explain that rich, dark taste in
this guy's blood; Doug didn't like it but couldn't stop himself from
drinking more of it. Shaking off his thoughts Doug hauled the girl
he had captured to her feet and dragged her to his offspring. He
smiled as the girl walked almost willingly toward those dark
eyes. "Bon apetit."
A sardonic smile twisted the new vampire's lips as he held out a hand
to the girl before him. Who, despite her quivering lip and ragged
breathing seemed almost to desire her new fate. He could smell her
fear and quickly decided that a woman could wear no finer perfume
than sheer terror. Pulling her into his arms he embraced her frail
human body; a whimper escaped her. The vampire kissed her lips
gently to quiet her, "Don't worry, Little one. It won't hurt, ever
again."
Softly he moved his lips from her's, trailing his tongue seductively
down her throat until it rested above her hammering pulse. He could
feel his fangs grow as he shifted between his human face and his
demonic visage, and in the next second they were buried in the girl's
creamy skin. The first wave of blood hit his taste buds, sending a
shudder of exultation through him rather than the disgust he had
imagined feeling.
Draining her body quickly he dropped the empty vessel to the ground
while Doug stared wide-eyed. Recovering himself Doug smiled at his
child, "Pretty smooth man. So you got a name?"
Turning he measured the one who had brought him over with darkened
eyes. It seemed appropriate that one so lowly should sire him,
greatness had to start somewhere. Without hesitation he knew that
the power surging in his veins along with the borrowed blood did not
come from this creature. It-Doug-was merely a tool. The power came
from him-the dark place he had ignored for so long.
Quickly he moved, grasping Doug by the throat and bending his neck-
forgoing the gentility he had shown the girl, he drained his sire.
At first the older vampire offered a struggle but as his blood flowed
into his child he grew weaker. Doug realized that he was dying
again, and just like that first time nothing had changed. He was as
helpless as the human he had watched die moments before. Pulling
away the younger vampire smiled his fangs glistening with blood; "My
name…is Alex."
That was the last thing Doug heard before turning to dust in his
child's gentle hands. Licking his lips, Alex shifted back to his
human face and smiled at the dust covering his hands. Clapping
sounded out of the shadows and he whirled, snarling toward it. "Very
good, Alex. You just won me twenty bucks."
He heard a match scrape and a flame illuminated a thin young woman's
face as she lit her cigarette. Using his new strength Alex lunged at
her and caught her by the throat in the same manner he had his sire.
Lifting her hand over his arm she took a drag of the cigarette and
smiled, "You don't want to eat me-I taste awful." A faint British
accent tinted the words but before he could reply, her even features
shifted revealing a set of raised horns, grey coloured skin and
glowing green eyes.
Letting go as if scalded Alex demanded warily, "What the hell are
you?"
Again the face returned to it's bland, forgettable appearance-one you
could easily lose in a crowd. The eyes glowed for a spilt second
then became a warm, mild brown. "Hell is right," she flicked her
cigarette ashes on the ground to join the hapless Doug. "We've been
watching you for years Alex, you always showed such stunning…" she
stepped over the body of the girl, "Potential."
"Potential for what?" Alex prowled feigning disinterest in the
demon's message.
Taking another drag of the ciggarette she smiled lightly as if
explaining everything, "Destruction, dear boy."
Alex shook his head, "Why is it that anyone with anything to do with
the `supernatural' goes out of their way to be vague?"
"Well to be less vague," She drawled and dropped the ciggarette on
the ground and crushed it violently with her toes, "Destruction. The
act of destroying all those warm fuzzy things humans enjoy so much,
like life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
"Oh well, that explains everything so clearly thank you nameless
demon for all your wisdom. If I need anymore of it I'll look you up
under `indistinct information and useless facts'." Alex supressed
his yawn.
The little smile on her face grew fainter as she moved close to him.
Before Alex could react the demon's hand darted out and grabbed him
tightly by the testicles, "Your sarcasm is not appreciated at this
point in time. I suggest that you put it away until it is actually
required."
Shifting slightly Alex smiled uncomfortably almost enjoying the
pressure being applied to his groin, "They sure do teach you to be
ball busters, don't they?"
"No one had to teach me anything," she purred and moved closer to his
body, "I've been around long enough to pick up a few tricks."
Power shifted between them and despite the pain Alex spun her around,
pulling her body close while placing both hands on her neck ready to
break it if necessary, "Should I let you learn some more?"
Her eyebrows rose, "Only a masochist would challenge me."
"I've never really been into pain for pleasure," Alex breathed in her
hair unable to decide if he should listen to the demon or kill her.
"Pain is pleasure and pleasure is pain," her arms reached upwards and
twisted Alex's back away from her body, "Live long enough and you'll
know they are one and the same."
Letting him go and moving away she straightened her shirt
delicately, "Now if we're finished with the flirting, there's a bit
of business to clear up here before you go on with your unlife."
"All business already? You haven't even told me your name yet." Alex
sauntered over to a chair and draped himself in it halfhazardly.
"I haven't had a name in millennia. Naming something gives you power
over it, makes that thing your own." She sighed and looked deep into
his eyes, "I have been called Adesina," she fidgeted uncomfortably
and looked down, "I always thought that it was pretty- not to mention
appropreate."
"Why is that?" Alex found the demon's discomfort endearing.
"It means `the way is open for more'." She shook off the ghost of
fraility, "In the beginning there were only higher beings. In due
time one of those beings rebelled against the will of the being you
think of as `God'. War ensued and those who rebelled with `Lucifer'
were cast down to earth and punished-they became the first demons."
"And how do you fit in? I am assuming you fit in if you're telling me
all of this. I'd hate for it to be a wasted story." Alex sat up
interested.
She smiled, "I was the first to take Lucifer's side. Now for the part
of the story involving you."
Alex clapped his hands, "Always a good subject, talking about me."
"As you are well aware people are sometimes chosen to fulfill a
higher destiny like the slayer." Adesina ignored the flash of boredom
on Alex's face; "Of course `God', believing in fairness and all both
sides can have their chosen."
"And this is the part where I lose interest and tell you to stuff
the `higher destiny' bullshit, Des." The vampire unfolded himself and
rose to his feet to tower over the demon, "I just want to enjoy my
unlife, I've spent too many years of my life letting people tell me
what to do and how to do it. That stops now, I just want to go about
the business of wreaking havoc in the world without the burden of
fate on my shoulders."
Shouldering past Adesina, he walked toward the only door he could see
leading out of the room. Alex placed his hand on the knob and tried
to turn it but nothing happened. Jangling it forcefully Alex snarled
at the uncooperative door then whirled on the demon behind him, "Let
me out."
"Not until I'm satisfied that you understand the opportunites being
presented to you, Alex. This doesn't mean you have to take oders
from anyone, in case you weren't listening I don't take well to
authority either. All it means is that I help you wreak all the
havoc you can handle in accordance with the bigger picture." Adesina
cocked an eyebrow, "No strings."
Alex glowered as he mulled it over in his mind, "No strings? No
hidden agendas? No waiting until the last minute in things that
affect me?"
"I'm too old to play games," Adesina replied, "I said no strings, I
meant it."
Teeth flashed as Alex offered her a blinding smile, "Good, I don't
like bondage. We'll give this a try."
"Too bad." A smile quirked Adesina's lip, "So, tell me where you'd
like to start, the Hellmouth is your oyster."
A frown creased his forehead; "A soul…When Buffy and Willow find out
they'll try to restore my soul. That has to be stopped. I really
don't want to spend eternity moping like Angel. So I guess we kill,
Willow so she can't cast the spell."
"Already thought of that," the demon reached into her coat pocket and
drew a glass orb from it, "Do you know what this is?"
Alex's eyes lit, "An orb of Thessila."
"Actually," Adesina grinned looking distinctly human, "It's one of
the only two orbs of Thessila left."
Alex casually walked to Adesina and plucked the orb from her hands.
He stared at it for a few brief seconds, then let it drop to the
floor. Glass shattered at their feet and Alex ground one of the
bigger pieces into dust under his heel. "Oops."
"Now, anything else?" the demon breathed shifting closer to the
vampire.
A dark grin creased his features; "I've got one or two ideas."
**************
Shadows nipping at her heels Dawn pulled her sweater closer to her
body. She knew better, Buffy had reproached her many a time about
walking home alone after dark. Despite everything she had seen and
expericened, Dawn still possessed the sense of invincibility native
to the young.
Lifting her head Dawn widened her eyes to admire the bright sky above
her, never had the stars appeared so full and clear to her eyes. A
hand clamped over her mouth before she could move her thoughts any
further. She felt a prick at her neck, then Dawn's whole world
turned black as she fell.